An Investigation of Trainers’ and VDPs’ Views in the Mersey Deanery of the FGDP(UK) Key Skills in Primary Dental Care and Assessment of Vocational Training

Abstract

Objective To investigate the views of vocational dental practitioners (VDPs) and trainers in the Mersey Deanery on the Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) Key Skills in Primary Dental Care and other means of assessing satisfactory completion of vocational training (VT). Design An anonymous four-part questionnaire survey was delivered to all 48 dental vocational trainers and VDPs at the final day of the educational day-release programme in the Mersey Deanery. Results There was a 100% response rate from VDPs and a 91% response rate from their trainers. Overall the VDPs and trainers thought the FGDP(UK) Key Skills were a good idea but the VDPs felt completion of all the key skills during the VT year was time-consuming. Eighty-one per cent of trainers but only 52% of VDPs felt there should be a formal assessment of the VT year. Neither group unanimously agreed that completion of key skills alone was a marker of successful completion of the VT year. For assessment of clinical performance the only areas of agreement were direct observation of performance, review of patients following treatment, and tutorial sessions. Conclusions The FGDP(UK) Key Skills have an important role in assessing competence in a number of important areas for VDPs. However, satisfactory completion of the key skills alone fails to assess clinical performance. Other methods of assessment of completion of VT will need to be considered in the light of the principles of assessment as laid down by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB).