Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Feb;29(1):92-103.
doi: 10.1111/eje.13048. Epub 2024 Nov 6.

Current State of Professionalism Curriculum in Oral Health Education

Melanie Nasseripour  1 , Andreas Agouropoulos  2 , Maria Theresa Van Harten  3 , Maria Correia  4 , Nibal Sabri  5 , Annemiek Rollman  6
Affiliations

Current State of Professionalism Curriculum in Oral Health Education

Melanie Nasseripour et al. Eur J Dent Educ. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to systematically review the relevant literature on teaching professionalism in dental curricula and report the relevant data from a survey of members of the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) on the topic.

Materials and methods: We conducted a systematic review of the literature and a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire regarding teaching and assessment of professionalism in dental schools, members of the ADEE. The literature review identified 33 articles related to professionalism in dental curricula. The survey sent to the membership of the Association for Dental Education in Europe yielded responses from 27 European dental schools and four schools outside Europe.

Results: Various study designs were identified in the review, and the main themes discussed included teaching/pedagogy, ethics/humanities, core domains and assessment of professionalism. Twenty schools reported having specific courses dedicated to professionalism, while the format varied, including entire modules, separate learning outcomes or unit structures. Ethics, communication, law/legal framework/deontology, teamworking and management/leadership were among the common topics taught under the banner of professionalism. Many schools reported increases or no changes in hours, staffing, themes/topics covered and weight in the curriculum for professionalism over the last decade.

Conclusion: The paper provides valuable insights into the current state of professionalism education in dental curricula and offers directions for enhancing its effectiveness and relevance in preparing future dental professionals. Collaborative efforts among dental educators and institutions can contribute to the continuous improvement of professionalism education and practice in dentistry.

Keywords: curriculum; ethics; literature review; professionalism; survey.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart of the selection of articles for the literature review.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The countries of origin of the articles included in the review.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Countries and number of Dental Schools per country participated in the survey.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
The delivery of professionalism topics in participating schools.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Assessment type and methods associated with professionalism.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Teaching of professionalism over time: Introduction and Changes in the Last Decade at Institutions teaching Professionalism 11 years or longer.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Resources and materials used in teaching professionalism.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Hanks S., Ranauta A., Johnson I., Bateman H., Nasseripour M., and Neville P., “Professionalism and Dental Education: In Search of a Shared Understanding,” British Dental Journal 232 (2022): 470–474, 10.1038/s41415-022-4094-0. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Nguyen T. M., Jones D., Ngo K. L., and Hayes M. J., “Developing Professionalism in Dentistry: A Systematic Review,” MedEdPublish 6 (2016): 85, 10.15694/mep.2017.000085. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Goldie J., “Assessment of Professionalism: A Consolidation of Current Thinking,” Medical Teacher 35, no. 2 (2013): e952–e956, 10.3109/0142159X.2012.714888. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Shanley D. B., Dowling P. A., Claffey N., and Nattestad A., “European Convergence Towards Higher Standards in Dental Education: The DentEd Thematic Network Project,” Medical Education 36 (2002): 186–192, 10.1046/j.1365-2923.2002.01125.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ehlinger C., Fernandez N., and Strub M., “Entrustable Professional Activities in Dental Education: A Scoping Review,” British Dental Journal 234 (2023): 171–176, 10.1038/s41415-023-5503-8. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types