The training effectiveness of dental trainees in postgraduate year training program for dentists

Background/purpose: Taiwan's two-year postgraduate year training program for dentists (PGYD) has been implemented since 2010. However, there was no relevant study for confirming the training effectiveness of PGYD trainees. This study evaluated whether different training institution attributes and different training modes for PGYD trainees could result in differences in the achievement of PGYD training purposes. Materials and methods: We adopted the questionnaire survey to collect the views of PGYD trainees on the training effectiveness of PGYD and further evaluated whether different training institution attributes and different training modes for PGYD trainees could result in differences in the achievement of PGYD training purposes. Results: For the “patient-centered” learning environment and the management ability to be a responsible dental clinic owner, the views of PGYD trainees in dental clinics and district hospitals were more positive than those in medical centers. For the clinical professional ability and the management ability to be a responsible dental clinic owner, the views of PGYD trainees in joint group were more positive than those in single hospital. Conclusion: We conclude that both hospitals and dental clinics can achieve PGYD training purposes. The smaller training institutions (dental clinics or district hospitals) are better training institution attributes and the joint group is the better training mode to achieve PGYD training purposes. The joint groups with medical centers combining many dental clinics, especially those in remote areas, may be an excellent training mode, because this training mode has the high potential to subsequently balance the distribution of dentists in Taiwan.