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Professional development for dental technicians; a pilot study.

M G Reeson¹, N A Jepson

¹Newcastle Dental Hospital, Prosthodontics, The Dental Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. michael.reeson@nuth.nhs.uk

British Dental Journal

|June 28, 2007

Summary

Continuing professional development (CPD) for dental technicians is needed, but implementation requires addressing cost, time, and access barriers. A successful CPD policy must be flexible, practical, and financially viable for both technicians and employers.

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Area of Science:

Dental Technology
Continuing Professional Development
Healthcare Workforce Education

Background:

The dental technology sector requires ongoing skill enhancement to maintain high standards of patient care.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is increasingly recognized as essential for healthcare professionals, including dental technicians.
Understanding the specific CPD needs of dental technicians is crucial for effective policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify the continuing professional development (CPD) needs of dental technicians in the North of England.
To assess the receptiveness of dental technicians to a formal CPD policy.
To uncover potential challenges associated with implementing a CPD policy in dental technology.

Main Methods:

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A mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups.

Data were collected from commercial dental laboratories and dental technicians within NHS hospitals, community dental settings, and a university dental school in the North of England.

Response rates varied, with higher engagement from NHS and university-based technicians (91%) compared to commercial laboratories (44%).

Main Results:

A significant majority of responding dental technicians supported the introduction of a CPD policy.
Key concerns identified by a minority of technicians included financial costs, time constraints, and accessibility of CPD opportunities.
Agreement was found regarding the necessity of CPD, but practical implementation faced potential hurdles.

Conclusions:

The introduction of a CPD policy for dental technicians requires careful consideration of practical challenges.
A successful policy must be tailored to meet the diverse needs of both individual technicians and their employers.
Flexibility, practicality, and financial viability are critical factors for the successful implementation and sustainability of a CPD policy in dental technology.