Practice management curricular changes may lead to enhanced preparedness for practice

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Healthcare Administration

Background:

• Dental graduates' perceived preparedness in practice administration has increased significantly since 2013.
• This trend suggests potential curriculum enhancements in U.S. dental schools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate changes in U.S. dental schools' Practice Management Curriculum (PMC) over the past five years.
• To identify factors contributing to the enhanced perception of practice readiness among dental graduates.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was distributed to 64 U.S. dental schools.
• The survey queried updates in PMC instructors, instructional methods, technology, topics, hours, and content.
• Inquiries included the development or planning of dual business administration degrees.

Main Results:

• A 36.0% response rate (23 schools) was achieved, with all participants reporting PMC changes.
• Student interest was the primary driver for curriculum updates (73.9%).
• All schools updated subject matter; 52.2% incorporated new technology, and two schools introduced MBA programs.

Conclusions:

• Upgraded PMC topics, teaching methods, web-based technology, and dual business degrees likely enhance dental graduates' skills and attitudes for practice readiness.
• Further research is necessary to evaluate the long-term career impact of these curriculum improvements.