Open Collections

Kehler, Jessica

University of British Columbia

Introduction: COVID-19 invoked many restrictions on graduate orthodontic programs. This may have impacted the development of required competencies for the graduation of orthodontic residents. We hypothesized orthodontic graduates in the COVID-19 era (2020-2022) feel less competent as compared to pre-COVID-19 graduates (2019). Objectives: The aims of this study were to develop a list of competencies for orthodontic graduates, use this list to assess perceived competence, and identify common challenges among orthodontic programs due to COVID-19, and how these challenges were overcome. Methods: An orthodontic competency list was based on available information from Canada, USA, and Europe. Part A Qualtrics® survey included information about the perceived competencies of orthodontic graduates (2019-2022) from accredited Canadian and American programs. Graduates were also asked about the importance of achieving these competencies, and the best modes of learning for them. Part B survey asked program directors/faculty from each program to identify COVID-19-imposed challenges in achieving specific competencies, and the accommodations made to overcome them. Results: Pre-COVID-19 graduates (2019) had higher levels of perceived competencies as compared to COVID-19 graduates (2020-2022), and significant differences were found for 8 Competencies out of 21. There were no significant differences in perceived competencies between Canadian and American graduates. Major COVID-19-imposed challenges as identified by the faculty included having fewer patients/patient visits/less of a variety of malocclusions to treat, and less instructor feedback. Few significant differences were observed between Canadian and American programs. Limited accommodations were needed to overcome COVID-19-imposed challenges, with the most common need to introduce additional clinics/seminars, reducing aerosols, and teleorthodontics. Conclusions: Restrictions on orthodontic education due to COVID-19 impacted the perceived competencies of graduates, where pre-COVID-19 graduates felt more competent than graduates during COVID-19. There were no significant differences between Canadian and American graduates. Graduate programs identified a few COVID-19-imposed challenges in achieving competencies, however, little accommodations were needed to overcome them.

Text

2024-02-29

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/83864

Craniofacial Science

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/