Trends of participation of post-graduate year training program for dentists in Taiwan dental training institutions from 2010 to 2018

Abstract

Background/purpose The licensed dentists in Taiwan should join the post-graduate year training program for dentists (PGYD) since 2010. This study aimed to analyze the project types and the geographical distribution of the PGYD training institutions in Taiwan from 2010 to 2018. Materials and methods From 2010 to 2018, 735 hospitals and clinics participated in four types of PGYD project including hospital as the single training institution (project A), clinic as the single training institution (project B), hospital as the main training institution in the joint training group (project C), and clinic as the main training institution in the joint training group (project D). The project types and the geographical distribution of the training institutions were analyzed. Results The 735 PGYD training projects were proposed by the 735 dental institutions. The project number grew from 119 in 2010 to 195 in 2018. The most common project type was project B (307, 41.8%), followed by the project A (249, 33.9%), the project D (101, 13.7%), and the project C (78, 10.6%). Geographically, these 735 main training institutions were located most commonly in northern region of Taiwan (379, 51.6%), followed by the central region of Taiwan (171, 23.3%), southern region of Taiwan (156, 21.2%), and eastern region of Taiwan (29, 3.9%). Conclusion Hospital or clinic as the single training institution is the two most common PGYD project types in Taiwan from 2010 to 2018. These single or main dental training institutions are mainly located in the northern, central, and southern regions of Taiwan.

Dentist manpower development and geographical distribution of dentists in Taiwan

“…4 Meanwhile, dental clinics designated as training institutions and teaching hospitals (especially medical centers) are usually concentrated in the northern and urban areas of Taiwan. 5 It is consistent with the conclusions of a Japanese study reporting that prefectures with more dentists or dental clinics have a greater ability to offer postgraduate clinical training for dentists. 6 Therefore, how to balance the dentist manpower resources in different regions of Taiwan becomes a pivotal issue in the future.…”

The status of hospital dentistry in Taiwan in October 2019

“…These results were consistent with those in other previous studies. 2 , 13 , 14 An unbalanced urban-rural distribution of dentists was noted in Taiwan. Therefore, how to balance the dental manpower resources in different regions of Taiwan will be a vital issue that needs further studies in the future.…”

“…Therefore, how to balance the dental manpower resources in different regions of Taiwan will be a vital issue that needs further studies in the future. 2 , 13 , 14 …”

Imbalance in the geographical distribution of practicing dentists in postgraduate dental training institutions in Taiwan

“…However, this system was generally considered to accelerate the imbalance in geographical distribution of dentists in Taiwan. 1 , 3 Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the geographical distribution of practicing dentists in postgraduate dental training institutions in Taiwan.…”

“…There are two types of clinical training program: single-system and joint training group programs. 2 , 3 Under the single-system program, dental trainees receive training in a single dental institution (single-system institution). Under the joint training group program, dental trainees make rounds among a dental institution that manages the program (program-management institution) and the other dental institutions (collaborating institutions).…”