Dental Foundation Training (DFT): does it meet the Francis Report Recommendations?

Abstract

This study evaluates Dental Foundation Training (DFT) in the context of the Francis Report recommendations. Results of questionnaires sent to trainees and educational supervisors involved in DFT highlighted the importance of an educational supervisor as a positive role model, the value of the informal curriculum in developing an organisational culture of professionalism, leadership and ethics, and the developmental benefits of experiential learning. DFT needs to create an optimal learning environment which should promote the benefits of reflection, positive role modelling and active participation by foundation trainees in their professional community and organisational culture. The findings of this study confirm the crucial role DFT plays in the development of safe, ethical and effective practitioners. It also underlines the need for clear and consistent UK wide standards of DFT supported by strong leadership and management, underpinned by skilled, professional educational supervisors, and effectively quality assured.

Is Dental Foundation Training succeeding in producing general dental practitioners with aspirations of a future career primarily within NHS dentistry? A qualitative study involving dentists who completed Dental Foundation Trainees (DFT) from 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 from the Health Education England (HEE) schemes in England investigating which feelings and experiences of the DFT in their training year promoted or discouraged intentions of pursuing a full-time career in NHS general dental practice

“…As discussed in Chap. 2, the studies usually assessed a part of the training year or evaluated other possible different training models and the trainer's and trainees' perceptions of the training programme's effectiveness (19)(20)(21)(22)(23). One recent study looked at the intended future working patterns of the FDs in England in the 2018-2019 scheme via a mixed-methods study comprising a quantitative questionnaire and focus groups.…”