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The Impact of a Postgraduate Learning Experience on the Confidence of General Dental Practitioners

This study aimed to explore the relationship between participating in a learning experience and the ensuing changes in confidence. A self-selected group of General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) entered a five-year, part-time postgraduate master’s training programme in restorative dentistry. Confidence...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Fine, Peter, Louca, Chris, Leung, Albert
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: MDPI 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5806975/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29563422
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/dj5020016
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author Fine, Peter
Louca, Chris
Leung, Albert
author_facet Fine, Peter
Louca, Chris
Leung, Albert
author_sort Fine, Peter
collection PubMed
description This study aimed to explore the relationship between participating in a learning experience and the ensuing changes in confidence. A self-selected group of General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) entered a five-year, part-time postgraduate master’s training programme in restorative dentistry. Confidence in communication with patients and technical skills were measured at the start of the programme by questionnaire and at the conclusion of the programme by questionnaire and personal interview. A total of 72 clinicians started the programme; 27% (n = 20) completed the master’s degree. Assessment of confidence revealed a spread from 4/10 to 10/10 for communication with patients and clinical skills in restorative dentistry before the programme started. A total of 15% (n = 11) volunteered for interview. Analysis of qualitative data revealed (i) a perceived increase in confidence from all clinicians; (ii) a perceived greater ability to treat patients; (iii) an increase in treatment options being offered to patients; (iv) a perceived increase in treatment uptake by patients; and (v) greater job opportunities. The study showed a positive relationship between the learning experience and the perceived increase in confidence of clinicians. The increase in confidence manifested itself in better communication and clinical skills.
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spelling pubmed-58069752018-03-16 The Impact of a Postgraduate Learning Experience on the Confidence of General Dental Practitioners Fine, Peter Louca, Chris Leung, Albert Dent J (Basel) Article This study aimed to explore the relationship between participating in a learning experience and the ensuing changes in confidence. A self-selected group of General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) entered a five-year, part-time postgraduate master’s training programme in restorative dentistry. Confidence in communication with patients and technical skills were measured at the start of the programme by questionnaire and at the conclusion of the programme by questionnaire and personal interview. A total of 72 clinicians started the programme; 27% (n = 20) completed the master’s degree. Assessment of confidence revealed a spread from 4/10 to 10/10 for communication with patients and clinical skills in restorative dentistry before the programme started. A total of 15% (n = 11) volunteered for interview. Analysis of qualitative data revealed (i) a perceived increase in confidence from all clinicians; (ii) a perceived greater ability to treat patients; (iii) an increase in treatment options being offered to patients; (iv) a perceived increase in treatment uptake by patients; and (v) greater job opportunities. The study showed a positive relationship between the learning experience and the perceived increase in confidence of clinicians. The increase in confidence manifested itself in better communication and clinical skills. MDPI 2017-04-26 /pmc/articles/PMC5806975/ /pubmed/29563422 http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/dj5020016 Text en © 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
spellingShingle Article
Fine, Peter
Louca, Chris
Leung, Albert
The Impact of a Postgraduate Learning Experience on the Confidence of General Dental Practitioners
title The Impact of a Postgraduate Learning Experience on the Confidence of General Dental Practitioners
title_full The Impact of a Postgraduate Learning Experience on the Confidence of General Dental Practitioners
title_fullStr The Impact of a Postgraduate Learning Experience on the Confidence of General Dental Practitioners
title_full_unstemmed The Impact of a Postgraduate Learning Experience on the Confidence of General Dental Practitioners
title_short The Impact of a Postgraduate Learning Experience on the Confidence of General Dental Practitioners
title_sort impact of a postgraduate learning experience on the confidence of general dental practitioners
topic Article
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5806975/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29563422
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/dj5020016
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