Competency‐based education in undergraduate clinical prosthodontics: A paradigm shift in training

Abstract

Introduction Competency‐based education (CBE) is thought to improve the quality of dental graduates than traditional education (TE). This study compared the students' final scores in clinical training of prosthodontics using CBE versus TE. Materials and Methods This study enrolled 459 fourth‐ and fifth‐year undergraduate students. Of the participants, 231 students (143 males and 88 females) attended TE and 228 (128 males and 100 females) attended CBE. This study considered the final scores that the students achieved for their competency cases and compared it with the scores achieved during the TE process. Statistical analysis of results used the Mann–Whitney U test for nonparametric numbers. Results The mean score of the clinical examination for all students in clinical prosthodontics courses was 81.4 (maximum and minimum scores: 95.0 and 41.3, respectively). The mean scores in the traditional and competency‐based education groups were 79.9 ± 6.48 and 82.9 ± 6.87, respectively. Scores in the competency education group (mean rank = 265.08) were statistically significantly higher than in the conventional education group (mean rank = 195.38) with U = 18,336, z = −5.631, and p < .001. Conclusions The application of CBE allowed the students to achieve higher scores in prosthodontics than the TE.

An 8‐year retrospective study of fixed prosthodontics clinical unit completions in a postgraduate prosthodontics program

“…A comparison to the types of laboratory fabricated fixed This study evaluated the volume of laboratory fabricated fixed prosthodontics clinical units completed which is one measure of performance that lies alongside the more heavily weighted competency-based prosthodontics assessment. 14 This is not to say volume of work is not important, however the quality and depth of understanding form the premise of the end of program assessment.…”

Development and assessment of an online virtual orthodontic curriculum

“…16 Thus, novice students start their training in simulation learning environment to prepare them as a safe beginner with competent clinical abilities and skills for their independent practices. 17 In this study, this novel online orthodontic curriculum based on the CBE was constructed via the online platform and virtual simulation, as a novice method including theory learning, clinical training, and objective evaluating. The present online orthodontic theoretical lectures based on the National Open Online Course "Orthodontics" provided the students with online instructional videos, unit homework and quizzes, problem-based discussion forums on the MOOC Platform of China Universities.…”

“…It provides students a seamless transition from undergraduate education to supervised medical or dental practice 16 . Thus, novice students start their training in simulation learning environment to prepare them as a safe beginner with competent clinical abilities and skills for their independent practices 17 …”

Development of a competency-based clinical assessment instrument for exit level Oral Hygiene students at the University of Western Cape

“…Assessment has been defined as "the systematic collection and analysis of information to improve student learning", that allows for the recognition of effective teaching and learning practices to reflect one's pedagogy and to record evidence of meaningful learning [15]. Dental education had witnessed a paradigm shift from a predominantly content-based curriculum to one that is competency focused [16]. The primary undertaking of competency assessments is to produce an entry-level professional capable of independent function.…”