Perceptions of the importance and control of professional problems in the clinical setting.
(9/80)
The objective of this study was to identify the relative importance of culturally relevant professional problems and the degree of control over them, as perceived by dentists and dental students in Mexico City, Mexico. The dentists and students ranked 13 problems according to importance and then according to the perceived degree of control over each one. Novice clinicians were less secure about their ability to cope with the legal, financial, and clinical performance problems, whereas experienced clinicians were more concerned about occupational hazards and the dental market and culture. Both reported similar perceptions of their control of the problems. This preliminary information should support introducing into dental schools relevant practice-management courses, targeting continuing education efforts, and instituting professional counseling measures to meet the challenges posed by these problems. (+info)
Investors in people: what is it all about?
(10/80)
Recently, there has been a proliferation of press releases from organizations recognized as Investors in People including the BDTA, the DPB, the BDA and many individual dental practices. Indeed, the number of dental practices recognized as Investors in People has more than doubled in the last six months. What is this sudden interest in Investors in People within the dental profession all about? This article is a guide to what the Investors in People (IiP) standard is, what relevance it has to dental practice and what benefits can be gained from working towards this standard. I have used my own experiences in gaining the standard in our dental practice to act as an example throughout the article. (+info)
The training plan.
(11/80)
A training plan needs to be a working document that helps ensure the appropriate training for everyone in the organization is carried out. (+info)
Small business needs assessment: a comparison of dental educators' responses with SBDC survey results.
(12/80)
A primary focus of dental education is to teach students the knowledge, skills, and values essential for practicing dentistry. However, the preparation of dentists to manage a business is frequently cited as inadequate. A survey was prepared to assess teachers' opinions of business instructional topics: challenges; desired training; employee benefits; learning resources; importance of business topics; and appropriateness of time allocations. The purpose of this project is to compare opinions of teachers of dental practice management with key management aspects reported for service businesses by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Practice management teachers from forty-eight (89 percent) schools responded to the survey. They indicated that several challenges confronting dentists are similar to other service businesses. Dentists, however, rank customer relations appreciably higher. In order of importance of teaching topics, the practice management teachers rank ethics and personnel management as a high priority and planning as a low priority. Awareness of the similarities and differences in the perceptions of practice management teachers and businesspeople may result in instructional improvements. (+info)
Validation of an instrument to measure dental students' use of, knowledge about, and attitudes towards computers.
(13/80)
Currently, no validated survey instrument exists to measure dental students' use of, knowledge about, and attitudes towards computers. Several studies have surveyed students about their knowledge and opinions regarding computers, but none of them has established the reliability and validity of the instrument(s) used. A measurement study to validate a preliminary survey for dental students was conducted. The preliminary instrument contained five scales: computer use, information resource use, computer knowledge, capabilities of computer systems, and effects of computers on dental practice. Selected variables were summarized descriptively, and a factor analysis for each scale was performed. In addition, construct validity was assessed through correlational analyses among several variables. Three hundred seventy surveys distributed to students at nine dental schools generated 156 responses (42 percent response rate). Sixty-four percent of respondents were male, 36 percent female. Respondents used computers an average approximately four hours per week, and most had begun using computers in 1991. All survey scales except computer use were unidimensional. Computer use required a two-factor solution that distinguished between clinical and nonclinical uses of computers. The instrument can be used for a demonstration study, but should be continuously refined and validated. (+info)
Expectations and perceptions of Greek patients regarding the quality of dental health care.
(14/80)
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions and expectations of patients regarding the quality of dental health care they received and the criteria they used to select a dentist. DESIGN: Descriptive study. METHODS: Two questionnaires referring to the expectations and the perceptions of dental health care were handed to patients. Likert-type scales were used to evaluate the characteristics examined. These characteristics have been classified in four quality dimensions: 'assurance', 'empathy', 'reliability' and 'responsiveness'. STUDY PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Two hundred consecutive patients who visited the Dental Clinic of the School of Dentistry, University of Athens, Greece, in 1998-1999. RESULTS: The patients' top priority was adherence to the rules of antisepsis and sterilization. Women of the middle and lower socio-economic groups were more demanding than men of the same groups, while men of the upper socio-economic group appeared to be more demanding than women (P = 0.02). Their perceptions of the dental service provided reflected their satisfaction regarding the adherence to the rules of antisepsis and sterilization, but also showed their moderate satisfaction regarding most of the other characteristics and their dissatisfaction regarding information on oral health and hygiene. CONCLUSION: Expectations and demands regarding empathy (approach to the patient) and assurance were placed at the top of the patients' priorities. A highly significant quality gap was observed between the desires of the patients and their perceptions (P< 0.01) and the largest gap was noted concerning information they received about oral health diseases. The largest quality gap was also observed in characteristics regarding responsiveness. (+info)
Professional motivation and career plan differences between African-American and Caucasian dental students: implications for improving workforce diversity.
(15/80)
Vast disparities in oral health status coupled with projected decreases in African Americans enrolling in and graduating from dental school have heightened concern about the underrepresentation of African Americans in the dental profession. The purpose of this study was to explore differences between African-American and white American students regarding demographics, professional motivations, and career plans. African-American (n = 104) and white American (n = 226) dental students completed a biographical data survey instrument, which included information about family background and professional motivations and plans, and rated descriptions of three practice arrangements. African-American students were more motivated to become a dentist to serve the public, plan to specialize, work in an urban area, and work part-time. White American students were more motivated to become a dentist based on factors related to family commitments. Race was a significant predictor for student ratings for both solo and employee practice. Study results have implications for health professions educators, administrators, and policy makers in their efforts to improve the recruitment and retention of African-American students, shape dental curricula to meet diverse student needs, and implement loan forgiveness programs to enhance minority student recruitment. (+info)
A view from the bodies corporate. 2. OrthoWorld 2000 Ltd.
(16/80)
North London may seem an unlikely venue for a discussion about orthodontics which takes us as far afield as South Africa and the USA, but Edgware is where I find the head office of OrthoWorld. At the time of writing OrthoWorld are the only specialist body corporate in the UK. I am meeting Dr. Morris Fine, Director of Operations, a quietly spoken orthodontist - and still practising - with what turns out to be strong views and clear convictions. OrthoWorld had its beginnings 'four and a half years ago. Three of us started the venture, an orthodontist, an ex-dentist and a business man'. Morris Fine is the orthodontist, and the other two of the triumvirate are Jack and Reuben Shapiro respectively. Morris Fine tells that they 'had headed up a successful media company in South Africa before turning their attention to orthodontics in the UK.' (+info)