Is China’s eight-year stomatology medical doctor program feasible? Comparison of comprehensive quality between doctoral dental students in China and Japan

Objective: To compare the comprehensive quality between eight-year Stomatology Medical Doctor (S.M.D) Program students of China and doctoral dental students of Japan, hoping to provide some references for improving dental education in China. Methods and materials: Data were collected from self-answered scoring questionnaires, answered by participants from China and Japan. Results: The study showed Chinese student got higher scores in fields of basic knowledge, basic medical knowledge and basic legal knowledge, although their knowledge still needed improving. Chinese students also got higher scores in dental professional quality items, except for teaching capability. They should improve scientific research ability and teaching capability as well. Japanese students got lower scores in items of oral professional diagnosis, treatment level and professional foreign language proficiency. Conclusion: For general quality, Chinese students got higher scores except for social acceptability. Innovation capability and international communication skills were shortcomings for both Chinese and Japanese students. The comparison provides insight of this new dental education program and the program requires further reform in the future.