STUDENT DROP-OUT FROM UK DENTAL SCHOOLS

Objective To determine the level of student drop-out from UK dental sc hools and to establish if drop-out is increasing, remaining steady or decreasing. Design Retrospective analysis of data from the University Statistical Record. Setting UK dental schools 1989-1994. Subjects and methods The data covered all dental students entering and leaving dent al schools during the relevant time period. Results The drop-out rate from UK dental schools between 1989 and 1994 ranged from 8.4% to 26.8% and is equivalent to the output of two to three medium-sized dental s chools. Drop-out rate was higher in the three most recent years studie d (1992-1994; 14.8%) than in the three earliest years studied (1989-19 91; 10.6%). Conclusions Student drop-out is a significant and increasi ng problem for UK dental schools. Unless controlled, it will result in fewer dentists qualifying in the UK and exacerbate shortages in quali fied dentists that may occur in future years.