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Continuing dental education in radiation protection: monitoring the outcomes

¹School of Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education, Cardiff University, University Dental Hospital & School, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK; ²Radiology Department, Cardiff University, University Dental Hospital & School, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK; ³Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Centre for Health Sciences Research, Cardiff University, 4th Floor, Neuadd Meirionnydd, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4YS, UK

*Correspondence to: Dental Postgraduate Tutor (Distance Learning) for Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XY; E-mail: absieg{at}cf.ac.uk

Received 18 March 2008; revised 28 April 2008; accepted 29 April 2008

Objectives: To evaluate an evolving radiation protection dental postgraduate course run in Wales between 2003 and 2007.

Methods: We compared three standardized course series. Course content was enhanced in 2006 to target areas of weakness. In 2007, a single best answer multiple choice questionnaire instrument superseded a true/false format. Practitioners' performance was studied pre- and immediately post-training. 900 participants completed identical pre- and post-course validated multiple choice questionnaires. 809 (90%) paired morning–afternoon records, including those of 52 dental care professionals (DCPs), were analysed.

Results: Mean (standard error) pre- and post-course percentage scores for the three courses were 33.8 (0.9), 35.4 (1.4), 34.6 (1.0) and 63.6 (0.9), 59.0 (1.4), 69.5 (0.9). Pre-training, only 2.4%, 3.1% and 4.9% of participants achieved the pass mark compared to 57.7%, 48.4% and 65.9% post-training, indicating a rather greater pass rate and gain in the most recent series than earlier ones. In recent series, older more experienced candidates scored slightly higher; however, their gain from pre- to post-training was slightly less.

Conclusions: Baseline levels of radiation protection knowledge remained very low but attending an approved course improved this considerably. Targeting areas of weaknesses produced higher scores. Current radiation protection courses may not be optimal for DCPs.

Keywords: education, radiation protection