Appropriate implementation strategies for general dentistry curriculum: a qualitative content analysis study

Revision and reform of the curriculum, especially in the field of dentistry which is very costly and complicated, is essential. Since the revision is undesirable without considering the views of stakeholders in the curriculum, this study aimed to investigate the appropriate implementation strategies for general dentistry curriculum from the viewpoints of faculty members and education officials of the faculty of dentistry of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

This study was conducted through qualitative content analysis and sampling method in a goal-oriented manner with the participation of 25 faculty members and education officials the faculty of dentistry in 2017. Data were collected by individual and group interviews and MAXQDA10 software was used for data analysis.

193 codess, 21 subcategories and 6 main categories including: improving presentation of the courses, faculty development, correcting implementation of integration, provision of software and hardware infrastructure, monitoring implementation of the curriculum, and changing the attitude of the stakeholders before the curriculum is informed was extracted.

It is necessary that the policymakers of the general dentistry curriculum implement the appropriate curriculum by considering these strategies and creating flexibility in the curriculum with permission to change with a higher percentage and in line with the implementation framework by the dental schools of the country.