General practitioners' perceptions of the effects of a distance learning programme.
A postal/telephone survey of 400 general dental practitioners working in the Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire Health Board areas was carried out between May and September 1990. The aims were to monitor any changes in the use of sealant restoration techniques in the last year, to investigate the practitioners' perception of the effects of a distance learning programme on their techniques and to provide data on the use of the techniques in the final months of the 'old contract'. A response rate of 66.7% was achieved. Eighty-eight per cent of the group were placing sealant restorations. Dentists' perceptions of the impact of the distance learning programme were encouraging. In key areas of practice, 16-44% of the group reported changes in their clinical techniques as a result of reading the programme.