Document Type : Original Article
Authors
- . Jananni Muthu
- . Sivaramakrishnan Muthanandam 1
- . K. R. Sethuraman 2
- . K. A. Narayan 3
- . N. Ananthakrishnan 4
- . B. V. Adkoli 5
1 Departments of Periodontology and Oral Pathology & Microbiology, Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV), Deemed to be University, Puducherry, India
2 Dean, Academics, AIMST University, Malaysia
3 Departments of Community Medicine
4 department of General Medicine, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Center
5 Center for Health Professions Education, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth (SBV), Deemed to be University, Puducherry, India
Abstract
CONTEXT: The general dentist must not only have a broad biomedical and clinical education but
also be able to demonstrate professional and ethical behavior as well as effective communication
and interpersonal skills. In addition he or she must have the ability to evaluate and utilize emerging
technologies, continuing professional development opportunities, and problem‑solving and critical
thinking skills to effectively address current and future issues in health care. But the extent to which
the core competencies are taught and the students’ level of proficiency in these competencies in
Indian scenario is to be explored at large.
AIMS: The present study aims at assessing the self‑perceived level of competencies and their
importance for future practice and the extent to which the competencies are taught in the curriculum
among interns of dental college in Pondicherry, India.
SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The cross‑sectional observational study was conducted among dental
interns of Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences, Pondicherry.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 72 interns participated in the study. A short version of the
Freiburg Questionnaire to Assess Competencies in Medicine” was used in this study. Questionnaire
has three sections with same set of questions, which the student had to rate: (i) To what extent do
you have the following competencies at your disposal? (ii) To what extent will your future job require
the following competencies? and (iii) To what extent is competencies taught to you? After the results
were obtained a focused group discussion with the responders was done. Focused group discussion
consisted of open questions to the groups in all the four domains and the responses of the students
were scribed.
RESULTS: In all four domains, self‑perceived level of competency was not satisfactory. However, all
students stated that the competencies were highly relevant for their future practice. Despite this, most
of the competencies are not taught to necessary extent in the curriculum. The results of the present
survey revealed that the participating students perceived deficiencies in all domains of competencies.
CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the core competencies are still barely integrated into
dental curricula and that further research in this field is needed.
Keywords
Reiss K, et al. On the Development of National standards. Vol. 5.
Berlin: Bundesministerium Für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF);
2003. p. 81‑9.
2. SchaeperH, BriedisK. Kompetenzen von Hochschulabsolventinnen
und Hochschulabsolventen, berufliche Anforderungen und
Folgerungen für die Hochschulreform. Projektbericht. Hannover:
HIS GmbH, Goseriede 9, 30159 Hannover; 2003.
3. Chambers DW. Toward a competency‑based curriculum. J Dent
Educ 1993;57:790‑3.
4. Commission on Dental Accreditation. Self‑Study Guide for
Dental Education Programs. Chicago: Commission on Dental
Accreditation. Illinois, Chicago: Academic Press; 2006.
5. Marchese TJ. Contexts for competency‑based curricula in dental
education. J Dent Educ 1994;58:339‑41.
6. Barry M. Capacity building for the future of health promotion.
Promot Educ 2008;15:56‑8.
7. ADEA competencies for the new general dentist.(As approved by
the 2008 ADEA House of Delegates) J Dent Educ 2016;75:932‑8.
8. Epstein RM, Hundert EM. Defining and assessing professional
competence. JAMA 2002;287:226‑35.
9. Frank JR. editor. The CanMeds 2005 Physician Competency
Framework. Better Standards. Better Physicians. Better Care.
Ottawa: The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada;
2005.
10. Bitter K, Reuttermann S, Lippmann M, Hahn P, Giesler M.
Self‑assessment of competencies in dental education
in Germany – A multicentred survey. Eur J Dent Educ
2015;3:153‑8.
11. Giesler M, Forster J, Biller S, Fabry G. Development of a
questionnaire to assess medical competencies: Reliability and
validity of the questionnaire. GMS Z Med Ausbild 2011;28:Doc31.
12. Schönwetter DJ, Law D, Mazurat R, Sileikyte R, Nazarko O.
Assessing graduating dental students’ competencies: The impact
of classroom, clinic and externships learning experiences. Eur J
Dent Educ 2011;15:142‑52.
13. Lanning SK, Ranson SL, Willett RM. Communication skills
instruction utilizing interdisciplinary peer teachers: Program
development and student perceptions. J Dent Educ 2008;72:172‑82.
14. American Dental Education Association. ADEA Survey of Dental
School Seniors, 2012 Graduating Class Tables Report. Washington,
D.C: American Dental Education Association; 2014.
15. QualtroughAJ. Education. Prepare to pair. Br Dent J 1994;177:194‑6.
16. Anderson KL, Smith BS, Maseman DC. Integration of an oral
health curriculum into a physician assistant program. J Allied
Health 2011;40:19‑24.
17. Assunção FC, AlmeidAC, KalenderianE. Knowledge of leadership
and management: Pilot study of student perceptions of a dentistry
course at a university in Brazil. Rev ABENO 2015;15:28‑37.
18. Abbas MR, Quince TA, Wood DF, Benson JA. Attitudes of medical
students to medical leadership and management: A systematic
review to inform curriculum development. BMC Med Educ
2011;11:93.
19. Gonzalez MA, Abu Kasim NH, Naimie Z. Soft skills and dental
education. Eur J Dent Educ 2013;17:73‑82.
20. Kyriakoulis K, Patelarou A, Laliotis A, Wan AC, Matalliotakis M,
Tsiou C, et al. Educational strategies for teaching evidence‑based
practice to undergraduate health students: Systematic review.
J Educ Eval Health Prof 2016;13:34.
21. Azarpazhooh A, Mayhall JT, Leake JL. Introducing dental
students to evidence‑based decisions in dental care. J Dent Educ
2008;72:87‑109.
22. Farris. EA, Abdulghani HM, Al Rowais NA, Almaro N.
Teaching evidence based medicine in Saudi school. JTU Med Sci
2007;2:42‑60.