Syed Akhtar Hussain Bokhari.
Dental Education in Pakistan: perceptions and perspectives.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;16(9):627-8.

Views and perceptions of dental professionals about the level and standard of dental education in Pakistan, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, were assessed during a dental conference through a pilot study. Conference participants (dental students, graduates, postgraduates, house officers, teachers and hospital employees) were requested to answer the questions in terms of good, satisfactory, un-satisfactory, improved, no change, worse, yes and no regarding the status of undergraduate dental education (UDE), expansion of BDS course, contribution of private dental colleges, opportunities and facilities for postgraduate dental education, and role of professional bodies respectively. A total of 89% of the participants returned the questionnaires. The majority of responders (70.02%), rated undergraduate dental education (UDE) as `satisfactory`, 16.3% respondents rated it `un-satisfactory` and 13.5% rated undergraduate education as `good`. Again the majority i.e. 64% of the total recommended a change in BDS course from 4 to 5 years; 61.9% of undergraduate students, 73.68% of PG students, 71.42% of teachers, 67.74% of house officers and 57.50% of hospital staff advocated expansion in BDS course. Contribution of private dental colleges to dental education in Pakistan was supported by 70.2% of the dental community and 65.67% undergraduate students, 73.58% postgraduate students, 74.19% house officers, 65% hospital staff, and 85.71% teachers, responded in favor of private dental schools. This pilot study has highlighted some important issues of dental education and profession in Pakistan, and presented a scenario of the views of dental community about the standard of dentistry in Pakistan. The dental undergraduate courses need to be expanded and updated to meet the needs of the profession.

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