Training Needs Analysis in Dental Practice Management

Working in a dental private practice is an investment that requires many skills in management, including the management of the dental office and staff recruitment. The objective of our study was to identify the need for continuing training in dental practice management among dental students at the end of their training.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among students at the end of their course at the Faculty of Dentistry of Casablanca using an anonymous questionnaire. The questionnaire included 7 general questions, 15 questions on the liberal installation, and 7 questions on the financing of the dental office. Data were entered and statistically analysed using SPSS software at the epidemiology and research laboratory of the faculty.

3% of students were able to answer correctly to the questions on the types of possible contracts for staff. 88.7% of students do not know dental practice management software, and 93.2% do not know which software to use to communicate with prosthetists. 88% of participants express a need for training in the running of their practice. To complete their knowledge, 70.7% of students expressed their interest in workshops, and 66.2% in guided lessons.

To address the identified training needs, the organisation of additional scientific events, such as congresses, seminars, and workshops, is proposed within the faculty, in collaboration with the Order Council and other institutional stakeholders.