Continuing education courses in dentistry: assessing impact on practice

In the context of movement towards mandatory continuing dental education, this paper describes how a delayed postal questionnaire can be used in course evaluation. Specifically, the value of the questionnaire as a tool for assessing the impact of short course attendance on general dental practice is examined.

Questionnaires were distributed to all those attending three courses, ranging in size, in the West Midlands region. As well as reflecting on the course, respondents were asked their views on the usefulness of the questionnaire, the length of time between course attendance and assessment of impact, and types of courses likely to have greatest impact.

Respondents thought the questionnaire an appropriate tool for assessing impact on practice, that an appropriate interval of time between the course and the delayed questionnaire is about six weeks, and that courses most likely to impact on practice are those which offer updates on common clinical topics and are hands-on in nature.

A delayed questionnaire could be a useful mechanism for evaluating the impact on practice of some types of courses. Response rates from those attending large lecture courses might be low. Course evaluation is also limited by resources and time. Criteria for identifying which courses should be subject to such evaluation might include high cost per participant and links with review cycles.

There is scope for more structured evaluation of continuing dental education, including the assessment of impact on practice. The questionnaire described is a useful component of an evaluation framework.