Perception of Regional General Dentists training: national survey

Abstract

Introduction: Informally, we know that the training offered by health services to Regional General Dentists (DGZ, Dentistas Generales de Zona) through the Yearly Training Program (PAC, Programa Annual de Capacitacion) is poorly perceived. The goal of this study is to determine different aspects of this perception. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out via an online survey, answered by 152 DGZs. Results: 81%, 82.3%, and 58.6%, respectively, did not consider the information, opportunities, and quality of the courses offered by health services through the PAC to be acceptable. 25% did not receive continuing education through health services, none of those surveyed had received a Master's level course, 40.1% had done internships in their base hospitals, and 79.6% believed that health services was not worried about training them. In Primary Health Care (APS, Atencion Primaria en Salud), the majority felt they had a skill level that was at least acceptable. 52.6% considered the DGZ was a path for carreer development, and 36.8% believed that they arrived at specialty programs with the same skill set as their self-funded counterparts. Discussion: The open answers reinforced the poor perception of continuing education offered by health services, and self-management as they only way to achieve quality education. The findings of this study confirm that this situation needs intervention to be improve DGZ's professional development and resulting quality patient care.