The degree of compliance of the content of the general dentistry curriculum with job needs from the perspective of dentists in Birjand

Curriculum needs to be re-evaluated during implementation Graduates' low ability can be related to non-compliance of curriculum content with job need. This study sought to investigate the degree of compliance of content of the general dentistry curriculum with job needs from perspective of Dentists in Birjand and their skills.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the academic year 2020 in Birjand. Target group was general dentists in Birjand, namely census sampling. Data were gathered through a researcher-made questionnaire with three sections like this: demographic information, degree of compliance of curriculum content with job need (including 6 subgroups, 93 questions of theoretical courses before and after basic sciences, practical courses before and after basic sciences, pre-clinic courses and internship courses) and skill of dentist at beginning of work (51 items) with 5-point Likert scale The link of electronic questionnaire was sent for dentists via social media (Telegram and WhatsApp). Data were assessed by descriptive statistics Using excel 2013 software.

Seventy four questionnaire were completed and analyzed. In basic sciences course, the two lessons of anatomical sciences (3.565 ± 0.882) as well as oral health and society (3.42 ± 0.961) had the most and parasitology (2.116 ± 0.85) and biochemistry (2.159 ± 0.98) had the lowest compliance with job need. In other lessons, compliance with job need was favorable. The dentists' skill level was very low on treatment of the opened sinus, medical emergencies, construction of orthodontic plaque, and crown lengthening.

Due to the low degree of compliance of theoretical and practical courses in basic sciences, the use of novel pedagogical methods as horizontal or vertical integration of the curriculum seems to be necessary to establish a relationship between basic and clinical sciences.