Accuracy of referrals to a specialist oral medicine unit by general medical and dental practitioners and the educational implications.
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In this study we investigated the accuracy of diagnoses of oral mucosal diseases made by family physicians (without a dental degree), other categories of physicians, and general dental practitioners prior to referring patients to a university oral medicine unit. Over a three-year period, we compared the diagnoses proposed in referral letters with the definitive histological diagnoses made by the specialist unit. Only 305 of 678 (45 percent) of the referral letters included a clinical diagnosis. Eighty-six patients (86/305, 28 percent) were referred by general dental practitioners (GDPs) who had graduated in dentistry; seventy-six (76/305, 25 percent) were sent by GDPs who had graduated in medicine with a postgraduate degree in dentistry; and 143 (143/305, 47 percent) were referred by other categories of physicians. More than 50 percent of the referring professionals were not able to make a clinical diagnosis of oral mucosal diseases. Only 40 percent of the provisional diagnoses (122/305) coincided with the diagnosis made at the specialist unit. The proportion of correct diagnoses was 40 percent for GDPs who had graduated in dentistry, 33 percent for other categories of physicians, and 27 percent for GDPs who had graduated in medicine with a postgraduate degree in dentistry. These findings suggest that Italian dental and medical practitioners have limited knowledge in the field of oral medicine. Consequently, there is a need for better education in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases and for improvement in total oral health training. (+info)
A study of military recruitment strategies for dentists: possible implications for academia.
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Results of the annual American Dental Education Association surveys of dental school seniors show approximately 10 percent of graduates enter federal government services while less than 1 percent enter dental academia. To examine this difference, this study sought the perceptions of senior dental students and junior military dental officers regarding their choice of a military career in order to determine how military recruitment strategies influenced their career decisions. Official documents explaining military recruitment efforts were requested from the military services and summarized. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted to gather perception data from the students and dental officers on successful strategies. By employing several strategies, the military was able to inform potential recruits about the benefits of being a dentist in the military. The opportunity to have the military finance a student's dental education was a successful military recruitment tool. Other enticing factors included guaranteed employment upon graduation, prestige associated with serving in the military, access to postgraduate training, minimal practice management responsibilities, and opportunities to continue learning and improve clinical skills without significant financial implications. It was concluded that dental education can use the same strategies to highlight the benefits of an academic career and offer many similar incentives that may encourage students to consider a career path in dental education. (+info)
Making academic dentistry more attractive to new teacher-scholars.
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This perspectives article written under the sponsorship of the Commission on Change and Innovation in Dental Education (CCI) of the American Dental Education Association (ADEA) summarizes data on the numbers of women and persons of color earning the D.D.S./D.M.D. degrees and entering the U.S. dentistry profession in the first decade of the twenty-first century and examines job factors of importance to recent graduates of doctoral programs in other academic disciplines that may have relevance for planning recruitment and retention strategies within academic dentistry. The characteristics and expectations of Generation X faculty are explored: who are they and what do they want from the academic workplace? The article describes the culture clash that often occurs when Gen Xers encounter policies and practices that were designed by and for prior generations (e.g., Traditionalists and Boomers) who filled the ranks of dental school faculty in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Recommendations for rethinking academic employment systems in ways that might make the university workplace more attractive to Generation X are described. (+info)
The relationship between gender and postgraduate aspirations among first- and fourth-year students at public dental schools: a longitudinal analysis.
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The purpose of this study was to examine gender differences and other predictors of postgraduate plans among U.S. dental students. A national sample of dental students was surveyed in their first and fourth years of dental school. Female first-year students were less likely than male students to express interest in specialization in endodontics and oral surgery. Fourth-year students who had a dental school mentor, a high GPA, and encouragement from significant others were more likely to apply for postgraduate training. Gender and first-year interest in dental specialization did not affect the likelihood of applying for postgraduate training in the fourth year. Female fourth-year students were more likely to predict that they would be an associate in a practice five years following graduation. The results suggest that mentoring and faculty encouragement are important influences on dental students' plans for postgraduate education. (+info)
Medicare program; hospital direct and indirect graduate medical education policy changes; notice. Final rule; clarification.
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This notice clarifies the availability of certain physician salary proxy data for purposes of the hospital direct and indirect graduate medical education policy adopted in the "Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2008: Annual Payment Rate Updates, and Policy Changes; and Hospital Direct and Indirect Graduate Medical Education Policy Changes" final rule that appeared in the May 11, 2007 Federal Register. (+info)
Development and interim results of a clinical research training fellowship.
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While the ability to base clinical training and patient care on scientific evidence is highly dependent on the results of translational and clinical research, a shortage of trained clinical investigators delays advances upon which to base evidence-based therapeutics. In response to this perceived shortage, a clinical research training program was developed in the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a prototype for training health professionals in clinical research methodologies and their application to oral-craniofacial problems. All but one of the trainees initiated at least one clinical trial leading to a scientific publication. Of eleven fellows, ten completed the program with diverse outcomes: four trainees have entry-level academic or equivalent research positions; three trainees continued on to Ph.D. programs; one is completing a postdoctoral fellowship combined with clinical specialty training; one is completing a clinical residency; and two are in clinical practice. Six of the trainees received NIH funding, or the equivalent, in the NIH Intramural Research Program. These outcomes suggest that a program focused on translational and clinical research training is a successful strategy for improving the future supply of clinical researchers to support evidence-based practices and therapeutic innovation. (+info)
Factors influencing candidates' choice of a pediatric dental residency program.
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The goal of this study was to identify the factors and program characteristics that influenced the program ranking decisions of applicants to pediatric dentistry residency programs. A questionnaire was sent to the first-year resident class in 2005 with a response rate of 69.2 percent (n=260). Approximately 55 percent were female (104/180) and 61 percent were non-His-panic white (110/180). The respondents reported that they applied to an average of nine programs, of which five were ranked. Most applicants were interested in a program that had a hospital component with a duration of two years. A program's ability to prepare the resident for an academic career was a minimal influence for 48.6 percent (87/179), and 57.5 percent (103/179) were not interested in a master's or Ph.D. degree. Factors associated with program ranking included modern clinical facilities, high ratio of dental assistants and faculty to residents, availability of assistants for sedation and general anesthesia cases, availability of a salary or stipend, and amount of clinical experience. Important non-clinical factors included hospitality during the interview, geographic location, and perceived reputation of the program. Opportunity to speak with the current residents in private, observing the interaction between residents and faculty, and touring the facilities were also highly considered. These findings may help program directors tailor their interviews and programs to suit the needs of applicants. (+info)
Use of an Electronic Patient Record system to evaluate restorative treatment following root canal therapy.
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Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems are rapidly gaining acceptance as an important tool for managing patient information. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the use of an EPR system for assessment of quality of care in an academic dental institution. The primary outcome of interest was the timeliness and completeness of restorative care following completion of nonsurgical root canal therapy. An initial query of the EPR database was performed using the following inclusion criteria: root canal treatment performed in the postgraduate endodontics clinic between September 2002 and June 2004, patient age > or =18 years old, and posterior tooth (premolars and molars). A total of 925 patients with 1,014 endodontically treated teeth met the inclusion criteria. A random sample of 30 percent of the treated teeth (302 teeth on 281 patients) was selected for detailed review. This sample of 302 teeth was then screened to determine if any restorative treatment had been performed between September 2002 and November 2005. Forty-eight percent (n=146) of the 302 teeth did not receive any form of permanent restoration over the time period studied. Twenty-five percent (n=75) of the teeth received a buildup only, and 27 percent (n=82) received the recommended treatment, a full occlusal coverage restoration. This study documents the use of an EPR system to objectively and efficiently assess one aspect of quality of care in a dental school environment. (+info)