RESEARCH ARTICLE
Analysis of Dentists’ Participation in Continuing Professional Development Courses from 2001-2006
Paul Abbott*, Kate Burgess, Eric Wang, Kang Kim
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2010Volume: 4
First Page: 179
Last Page: 184
Publisher ID: TODENTJ-4-179
DOI: 10.2174/1874210601004010179
Article History:
Received Date: 29/3/2010Revision Received Date: 28/6/2010
Acceptance Date: 19/7/2010
Electronic publication date: 27/8/2010
Collection year: 2010

open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
Currently in Western Australia (WA) there is no requirement for dentists to participate in continuing professional development (CPD). The aim of this study was to determine the participation pattern of dentists in WA in CPD activities. Data was collated regarding registrants for courses conducted by the University Continuing Dental Education Committee. Information concerned number of courses attended by each dentist, location of work and year of graduation from university. Details of subject, length and type of courses conducted were also gathered. Most courses were half to one day in duration with many subjects covered. Between 10.1-24.4% of dentists registered in WA attended at least one course each year. Low numbers of recently graduated and older dentists attended courses. Similar percentages of metropolitan and rural dentists attended courses. Participation in CPD activities of dentists in WA was low. Half day or evening courses appear to be favoured by dentists.