Effect of self-assessment training in preclinical endodontic courses on the clinical performance of undergraduate dental students

Abstract

Background Root canal treatment (RCT) of molar teeth is very challenging to undergraduate dental students. Wellstructured self-assessment was shown to be the key for improving quality of dental education so that graduates could be properly prepared to act independently in dental practice. Aims To observe the effect of rubric self-assessment teaching during the preclinical stage on the performance of undergraduate students in treating patients' molars. Methods An improved rubric was introduced to the endodontic preclinical stage through which 128 students were trained on self-assessing their practical work over an entire year (Group A). While 149 students (Group B) were taught without self-assessment. The following year, during the clinical stage, both groups were asked to treat single rooted teeth only, after they finish at least ten teeth, students who feel confident enough were allowed to do simple molar PEER REVIEW Not commissioned. Externally peer reviewed.

Comparison between students' self‐evaluation and faculty members' evaluation in a clinical endodontic course at King Saud University

“…The ability to perform self‐assessment demands practice and helps professionals understand their strengths and deficiencies 8 . Abiad showed that self‐assessment training in preclinical endodontic courses affects the clinical performance of students regarding their ability to perform root canal treatment on patients' molars before graduation with confidence 15 . Dochay et al reviewed 63 studies and concluded that self‐evaluation improved students’ performance, quality of learning and perception of problem‐solving 16 .…”

“…8 Abiad showed that self-assessment training in preclinical endodontic courses affects the clinical performance of students regarding their ability to perform root canal treatment on patients' molars before graduation with confidence. 15 Dochay et al reviewed 63 studies and concluded that self-evaluation improved students' performance, quality of learning and perception of problem-solving. 16 Abdullah et al investigated dental students' opinions on the value of self-evaluation skills and found that students' responses indicate that they consider self-evaluation as an effective educational tool.…”

“…In the fourth‐year undergraduate endodontic clinical course in the dental school at King Saud University, students were evaluated, and they self‐evaluated themselves based on a well‐written clear rubric. Several studies have investigated the agreement between students' and faculty's assessments 15–24 . However, to our knowledge, no study has evaluated the agreement between students' and faculty's formative assessments in a clinical endodontic course at dental school neither at King Saud University nor in other Saudi universities.…”

“…14 faculty's assessments. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] However, to our knowledge, no study has evaluated the agreement between students' and faculty's formative assessments in a clinical endodontic course at dental school neither at King Saud University nor in other Saudi universities.…”