Research Article

Evaluation of Perceived Competency of Dental Graduates of Saudi Arabia

Table 1

Participants’ [(%)] response to questions.
(a)

QuestionsWell preparedPartially preparedPoorly prepared

Domain: Knowledge
(1) Possess sound basic knowledge of dental diseases and associated medical problems139 (70.5%)56 (28.5%)2 (1%)
(2) Have knowledge of and record comprehensive medical and dental history153 (78%)42 (21%)2 (1%)
(3) Know and understand national demands and responsibilities to cope with dental diseases, communicable diseases and national disasters150 (76.2%)46 (23.3%)1 (0.5%)
(4) Have knowledge of and recognize common medical problems in dental office157 (79.6%)39 (19.9%)1 (0.5%)
(5) Know and execute “basic life support”57 (29%)90 (46%)50 (25%)
(6) Know to draft a comprehensive treatment plan including prognosis, complications, and outcomes of the treatment147 (74.6%)49 (24.9%)1 (0.5%)
(7) Know and understand the importance of post treatment follow-up95 (48%)100 (51%)2 (1%)
(8) Know to correlate and transfer the theoretical knowledge to clinical procedure87 (44%)109 (55.5%)1 (0.5%)
(9) Be aware of situations/conditions needing referral to appropriate consultant/specialist centers90 (45.6%)106 (53.9%)1 (0.5%)
(10) Have knowledge of research64 (32.5%)123 (62.4%)10 (5.1%)

Domain: Skills
(11) Have appropriate communication skills towards patients, health-care professionals including breaking bad news to the patients122 (62%)74 (37.5%)1 (0.5%)
(12) Use different diagnostic tools (radiographs and laboratory investigations)147 (74.6%)49 (24.9%)1 (0.5%)
(13) Well trained for life-long learning, personal and professional growth and development118 (60%)77 (39%)2 (1%)
(14) Able to manage patients of special-needs group44 (22.4%)113 (57.3%)40 (20.3%)
(15) Possess good information technology (IT) skills31 (15.7%)159 (80.7%)7 (3.6%)
(16) Able to train and handle dental auxiliaries37 (18.8%)132 (67%)28 (14.2%)
(17) Have multidisciplinary approach (ability to discuss and report the clinical conditions of the patient to the specialist)151 (76.6%)43 (21.9%)3 (1.5%)
(18) Able to perform general medical examination168 (85.2%)28 (14.3%)1 (0.5%)
(19) Able to examine and diagnose all dental problems165 (83.7%)31 (15.8%)1 (0.5%)
(20) Able to do differential diagnosis and prepare plan treatment169 (85.7%)27 (13.8%)1 (0.5%)
(21) Able to diagnose dental problems and refer for specialist care112 (56.8%)84 (42.7%)1 (0.5%)
(22) Able to deal with medical emergencies and if required, refer for “general medical care”126 (63.9%)68 (34.6%)3 (1.5%)
(23) Able to manage dental emergencies56 (28.5%)128 (64.9%)13 (6.6%)
(24) Able to perform common dental procedures, depending on the treatment plan117 (59%)78 (40%)2 (1%)

Domain: Values
(25) Be imbued with the spirit of “service to humanity” and enhancing the good image of the healing profession169 (85.7%)27 (13.8%)1 (0.5%)
(26) Understand the responsibility of health-care professionals towards community and profession114 (58%)82 (42%)1 (0.5%)
(27) Understand medical ethics and medical/dental jurisprudence125 (63.5%)71 (36%)1 (0.5%)
(28) Understand the importance of informed consent, and patient confidentially158 (80.2%)38 (19.3%)1 (0.5%)
(29) Have high emotional quotient152 (77%)44 (22.5%)1 (0.5%)
(30) Be realistic and aware of my limitations173 (87.8%)23 (11.7%)1 (0.5%)

(b)

Dental graduatesNumber of questions in each domain
Domain 1Domain 2Domain 3

≥75% well prepared4 (40%)5 (36%)4 (67%)
51-74% well prepared1 (10%)4 (28%)2 (33%)
≤50% well prepared5 (50%)5 (36%)0 (0%)