Graduates’ and Employers’ Perceptions on Competencies Obtained from An Undergraduate Dental Curriculum Persepsi Graduan dan Majikan terhadap Kompetensi yang Diperolehi dari Kurikulum Program Pergigian Prasiswazah
http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/JSKM-2021-1901-09
- Author:
NIK-MADIHAH NIK-AZIS
1
;
BADIAH BAHARIN
1
;
DALIA ABDULLAH
1
;
CHAN LAI PENG
2
;
LOK YI YING
2
Author Information
1. Center of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2. Oral Health Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
competence;
perception of graduates;
perception of employers;
dental education;
Malaysia
- From:Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences
2021;19(No.1):81-87
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The effectiveness of a dental curriculum as reflected by the competencies of the graduates is paramount in ensuring its
relevance in the rapidly evolving field of dentistry. This work aimed to assess the competencies of dental graduates of
the Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) as perceived by the graduates and their employers on
the basis of the core competencies listed in the undergraduate dental curriculum. A self-administered questionnaire
consisting of 43 questions based on eight competency domains were sent to all UKM dental graduates of years 2012 to
2015 and to senior dental officers who represented their employers. The eight domains assessed were as follows: 1)
gathering information at chair-side, 2) diagnosis, 3) treatment planning, 4) treatment and prevention, 5) communitybased, 6) management and administrative, 7) communication and 8) personal management and professional development.
a total of 132 graduates (75%) and 18 employers (55%) responded. Only domain E on community-based skills was
collectively rated ‘satisfactory’ while the rest of the seven domains had an ‘excellent’ rating by all respondents. With
regard to individual skill, basic life support was rated very low for both groups (38.6% graduates and 23.5% employers).
A strong association was found between the scores given by the graduates and their employers (p= 0.00). Generally, no
difference was found between the scores of graduates from different years. The findings allow an evaluation of the
curriculum in a myriad of angles. Although the graduates reported a good level of competency in most domains, the
employers were reserved on the community-based skills. Poor competency in the key skill of basic life support in medical
emergencies was highlighted and must be addressed in the curriculum or during training at the workplace.
- Full text:14.2021my0373.pdf
