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Curriculum emphasis and resident preparation in postgraduate general dentistry programs
Karen H Lefever1, Kathryn A Atchison, Ronald S Mito
1UCLA School of Dentistry, Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Journal of Dental Education
|July 16, 2002
Summary
Federal funding impacts postgraduate general dentistry programs. While curricula adapt, many residents remain unprepared in key areas, with lower student quality predicting remediation needs.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Postgraduate Training
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Federal funding influences postgraduate general dentistry programs.
- Curriculum emphasis and resident preparation in advanced general dentistry programs were analyzed over five years.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of federal funding on postgraduate general dentistry programs.
- To analyze curriculum changes and resident preparedness in Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) and General Practice Residency (GPR) programs.
Main Methods:
- Survey of directors from 208 civilian AEGD and GPR programs regarding curriculum content and resident quality.
- Analysis of curriculum emphasis changes in thirty subject areas.
- Use of multivariate and logistic regression to identify factors predicting resident remediation needs and program fill rates.
Main Results:
- Curricula in AEGD and GPR programs have evolved to reflect changes in general practice.
- Over half of program directors reported residents inadequately prepared in fourteen curriculum areas.
- Lower resident academic quality (GPA, National Board scores) was linked to a greater need for remediation.
Conclusions:
- Postgraduate general dentistry programs show responsiveness to practice changes, but significant preparedness gaps persist.
- Resident academic quality is a key factor influencing the need for remediation and program recruitment success.