Clinical competency exercises: some student perceptions

Abstract

Clinical competency assessments are an important part of dental curricula-to satisfy national requirements, maintain professionalism and ensure graduates are prepared for independent clinical practice. It has been observed within Newcastle Dental School (UK) that students tend to undertake the majority of their competency assessments at a very late stage. A questionnaire was designed to investigate student perceptions of two different competency assessment processes (formative structured clinical operative tests vs. summative grading), assess why they chose to undertake competency exercises at a particular time, investigate how well prepared they felt, and finally to evaluate potential barriers that students perceived within the competency process. Data regarding the timing of competency assessments and grades achieved were analysed. Fifty-nine per cent of students reported preferring the summative grading system. Most students felt that they undertook their competency assessments at about the right time (54%: conservation department, 66%: paediatric department) and the majority felt adequately prepared to undertake each exercise (68-98%). The greatest barrier stated to undertaking competency assessments was a lack of suitable patients both on which to practise and to undertake the exercise. No correlation was found between when students took summative assessments and the grades achieved. Therefore, we must encourage students to undertake their competency assessments once they have accrued sufficient clinical experience and reassure them that timing has little effect on the grade achieved. We should assist them to locate suitable patients wherever possible.

University of Malaya Dental Students’ Perception on Competency Based Test

“…We planned to administer the questionnaire at the end of Semester 2 for the academic year 2013/2014 after the final examinations. This was to ensure that all students completed the competency tests by the end of their Year III and Year IV and that it did not interfere with their final examinations (8). However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, it was delayed to the 5th week of the next semester in academic year 2014/2015.…”

“…Supervisors play an important part in students' daily practice. The supervision during and after passing a competency test acts as an important resource for students to identify their problems as well as encourages critical thinking (8). Result shows that majority of Year IV and Year V students agree that there was consistent assessment given by different lecturers for most of the competency tests administered.…”

“…Students expressed their concerns that different patients with different level of difficulty affect their timing to take competency tests. The cases referred to undergraduate students are complex and unsuitable (8). This might cause bias on when to take competency tests as two individuals with equal skills do not produce the same probability of success.…”

“…The manner in which the clinical sessions are distributed is crucial in order for students to organize their timing to take the competency tests (8). Students mentioned some example as there is too much Removable Prosthetic sessions in Semester 1.1 and the sessions reduced tremendously in Semester 1.2.…”

Difficulties in performing root canal treatment among undergraduates of dental collages in south india - a questionnaire based study

“…The anatomical diversity of root canals, the need to provide adequate care to the patients and the lack of self confidence among students led many of them to consider endodontics to be difficult and stressful discipline, while performing the endodontic treatment. (3) Information related to technical difficulties and time devoted to root canal treatment treatment may help emphasize points of weakness and lead to improving teaching and training methods. The aimed to identify the difficulties and amount of time growing disciplines in daily which involves the introduction of many new instruments, materials and techniques.…”