Assessment of the Graduates of School of Dentistry of Tabriz University Regarding Compliance with the Requirements of the Job in the Community

Abstract

Introduction: The main purpose of the educational programs of the universities is to train professionals to perform specific tasks. Achieving this goal requires an educational program designed to meet the needs of the community where the person serves after graduation. Given the rapid progress of science in the current century, identifying the performance of predetermined programs requires constant monitoring, in order to change as best as possible. In recent years, with increasing awareness about the importance of oral health in the community and changes in the health care system of our country and considering the crucial role of dentists in the prevention and treatment of oral and dental diseases, the assessment of compatibility of educational programs at the faculty of dentistry with what is need in the society as a dentist after graduation is very important. Method: This is descriptive cross-sectional study in which the graduates of Tabriz Dental School during the years 1395 and 1396 were surveyed. . The information was gathered by a questionnaire consisting of 51 questions after confirmation of its’ validity and reliability. Each question examined the adequacy of the skills learned at the university to use it after graduation and at the community level. The average score for each of the dental units as well as the average of the total points were calculated and the degree of compliance was expressed as percentages. Results: A total of 108 graduates completed the questionnaire. The average score was 72 ± 4 from the total of 108 points, which was equivalent to the satisfaction rate of % 79.9 ±% 4.1. The highest percentage of compliance was in pediatric unit with a mean of % 92.2 ± %7.1 and the lowest percentage of compliance was related to the orthodontic unit with a mean of %33.1 ± %20.5 Conclusion: Considering the acceptable percentage of overall compliance, paying more attention to the skills that have the least compliance with the needs of graduates can lead to a general improvement in the quality of the students' education that will meet their needs after graduation.