The evaluation of higher dental education in Brazil: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: In Brazil, the SINAES is a process that is currently used to assess higher education institutions, undergraduate programs and students' performance on the ENADE national exam. This study aimed at assessing the Brazilian undergraduate programs in Dentistry, inquiring if the evaluation results induced to changes to improve the teaching-learning process. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a questionnaire that was e-mailed to 165 professors/coordinators of undergraduate programs in Dentistry in Brazil in 2003/2004. The data analysis was based on the themes of the various open- and closed-ended questions: questions 1, 2, 3 and 4 referred to the evaluation of each institution and its undergraduate program, whereas questions 5, 6 and 7 referred to the ENADE. Results: Changes to improve the quality of teaching in Dentistry and the education of new professionals were driven by the results of the evaluation. These changes were implemented at all institutions that returned the completed questionnaires. Conclusion: Improvements in the quality of Brazilian Dentistry will only be possible if the education of the students and the professors is improved.