Training Needs Analysis in Dental Practice Management.

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Practice Management
• Health Administration

Background:

• Private dental practice demands comprehensive management skills, including office operations and staff recruitment.
• Dental students require specific training to effectively manage a private practice upon graduation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the continuing education needs in dental practice management among final-year dental students.
• To identify specific knowledge gaps in areas such as office software, staff contracts, and financial management.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study utilizing anonymous questionnaires administered to final-year dental students.
• The questionnaire covered general management, private practice setup (liberal installation), and office financing.
• Data analysis was performed using SPSS software at the Faculty of Dentistry of Casablanca's epidemiology and research laboratory.

Main Results:

• A significant deficit in knowledge was observed, with only 3% correctly answering questions on staff contracts.
• Over 88% of students were unaware of dental practice management software, and 93.2% lacked knowledge of software for prosthetist communication.
• 88% of participants expressed a strong need for practice management training, with 70.7% favoring workshops and 66.2% preferring guided lessons.

Conclusions:

• Dental students exhibit substantial unmet needs for practice management education.
• The faculty should implement additional scientific events like workshops and seminars to bridge this educational gap.
• Collaboration with professional bodies, such as the Order Council, is recommended to enhance training initiatives.