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An evaluation of civilian and military dental foundation training

British Dental Journal volume 229, pages 615–619 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Background and aim There is little available material relating to the quality of continuing professional development for dental professionals and no studies to investigate whether dental foundation training (DFT) is meeting its aims and objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the components of DFT within the military and Oxford deaneries from the perspective of the educational supervisors (ESs) and foundation trainees (FTs).

Method Questionnaires were sent to all 124 FTs and ESs involved in DFT in the Oxfordshire and military deaneries between 2012 to 2015. Following thematic analysis of the free text from the questionnaires, an interview guide was produced which mapped the main themes for a series of semi-structured interviews.

Results Sixty-six questionnaires were returned (53% response rate) from 18 military and 3 Oxford ESs (21), and 30 military and 15 Oxford FTs (45). Eighteen interviews were carried out (6 ES/12 FT). The questionnaires highlighted the educational benefit of workplace-based assessments, joint clinical sessions and the importance of an ES as a positive role model, while the interviews highlighted the facilitative benefit of effective supervision, timely feedback, practice-wide teamwork, appropriate assessments and formal/informal peer review.

Conclusions This study demonstrates the benefit of creating an optimal learning environment for DFT within the context of professional and ethical organisational support and appropriate clinical resources. ESs have a critical part to play as professional and clinical role models, and in ensuring an accountable and formal educational delivery, targeted learning goals, flexible delivery and timely feedback.

Key points

  • Provides an overview of military and civilian dental foundation trainees' and educational supervisors' experiences in the Oxfordshire and military deaneries.

  • Suggests that readiness for independent dental practice, the principal aim of dental foundation training (DFT), requires professional, ethical and organisational support to create an optimal learning environment in which the trainee feels a valued member of the dental team.

  • Recommends that DFT includes more joint clinical sessions and trainee-led workplace-based assessments tailored to foundation trainee needs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Group Captain, Chief Dental Officer (Defence), Defence Primary Healthcare (Dental), DMS Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9PY, UK

    Mark Richardson

  2. Wing Commander, Consultant in Dental Public Health, Defence Public Health Unit, DMS Whittington, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS14 9PY, UK

    Mark Dermont

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Correspondence to Mark Richardson.

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Richardson, M., Dermont, M. An evaluation of civilian and military dental foundation training. Br Dent J 229, 615–619 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-2275-2

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