Journal List > J Korean Acad Prosthodont > v.49(3) > 1034668

Kim, Lee, Huh, and Shin: Current status of dental geriatric education in Korea

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the current status of dental geriatric education in Korea.

Materials and methods

One of the faculty members related in geriatric education was selected in each Korean dental school and the questionnaire on geriatric dental education was sent to them by e-mail. The questionnaire consists of the topics about undergraduate geriatric education and administration of the geriatric education. The information obtained from the questionnaire was compared with that of other countries in the aspects of curriculum, teaching methods, subjects, and existence of specific clinics, etc.

Results

Seven schools have geriatric dentistry in undergraduate education curriculum. Among those, only two schools had it taught by theoretical lecture as well as clinical lecture. Two dental schools had specific geriatric clinic among seven dental schools. Compared with the USA and western European countries, the geriatric dental education in Korea is at a developing stage and was perfunctory without diverse clinical experience.

Conclusion

In Korean dental schools, geriatric education was mostly conducted by lectures, and clinical teaching programs were not well organized compared with developed countries. It seems that the status of geriatric dental education in Korea has not been well established academically or administratively yet. (J Korean Acad Prosthodont 2011;49:229-35)

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Fig. 1.
Status of population scale in Korea for each year from 2005 to 2050. Source: Prospective population census in the future, National Statistical Office, 2006.
jkap-49-229f1.tif
Fig. 2.
Trend of expanded life span in Korea from 1950 to 2050. Source: World population prospects, the 2008 revision, UN, 2009.
jkap-49-229f2.tif
Fig. 3.
Trend of total fertility in Korea from 1950 to 2050. Source: World population prospects, the 2008 revision, UN, 2009.
jkap-49-229f3.tif
Fig. 4.
Status of geriatric dental education in USA, Europe, and Korea.
jkap-49-229f4.tif
Fig. 5.
Topics covered in geriatric dentistry programs in USA, Europe, and Korea.
jkap-49-229f5.tif
Fig. 6.
Administration of geriatric dentistry in USA, Europe, and Korea.
jkap-49-229f6.tif
Table l.
Current status of world population and Korean population
  Year of arriving Time interval (year)
Aged society -7% Aged society -14% Post-aged society -20% From aging to aged society From aged to post-aged society
Korea 2000 2018 2026 18 8
Japan 1970 1994 2006 24 12
Germany 1932 1972 2010 40 38
USA 1942 2014 2030 72 16
France 1864 1979 2019 115 40

Source: World population prospects, the 2008 revision, UN, 2009.

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