Investigating Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) results as predictors for preclinical and clinical scores in dental school

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to determine whether 2 current admission criteria, the perceptual ability test (PAT) and the manual dexterity test (MDT) can predict success in dental school within the Université de Montréal population. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the records of 854 students who graduated between 2005 and 2015. For each student, PAT and MDT scores were compared to 5 preclinical and 3 clinical classes using the Pearson correlation coefficient and regression models. T-tests were used to compare students above and below a 5-point increase in cutoff scores (PAT = 15, MDT = 10). Results: The strongest relationship was found to be between PAT and preclinical scores (r = 0.329, P < 0.01). The regression analysis determined that gender, PAT and MDT predicted more of the variability of preclinical (12.7%) than of clinical scores (2.7%). Students scoring ≥10 on the MDT performed better in preclinical and clinical courses, and those scoring ≥15 on the PAT performed better in preclinical courses. However, when comparing these students to the entire group, only those scoring ≥15 on PAT differed from the group's average for preclinical scores (P = 0.029). Conclusion: These findings suggest the PAT and MDT have some power in predicting success in preclinical, and to a lesser extent clinical courses, and supports their use as criteria in the admissions process. There is some evidence that suggests that increasing the cutoff score may decrease the number of students with difficulties in preclinical courses.

Wax carving exercises predict performance on practical examinations for first‐year dental students

“…The other six improved from a mean of 4.14 on the first examination to 5.0 on the second examination. In this study, those who failed the practical examinations had an average PAT of 18.3 (range of [16][17][18][19][20][21]. Those participants that obtained perfect scores of 5.0 on the examinations had a mean PAT of 20.8 (range of 18-26).…”

“…15 Conversely, Novack et al concluded that the PAT and a manual dexterity test have some power in predicting success in preclinical courses. 16 Studies that have investigated students' performance, in their first year of school, found that early assessments were likely predictors of later performance. 7,12,17 A recent study by Hankle et al demonstrated a weak but statistically significant correlation between PAT scores and performance on a rudimentary wax carving exercise.…”

Growing future clinicians: Can the seeds of admission data determine success?

“…The previously referenced Canadian study also found reading comprehension (RC), chemistry, and PAT portions of the DAT to be significantly related to annual GPA for all 4 years of dental school 7 . A different retrospective analysis of 11 cohorts at a Canadian dental school determined the DAT‐PAT, DAT manual dexterity test, and gender were better predictors of preclinical grades than clinical ability 13 …”

“…7 A different retrospective analysis of 11 cohorts at a Canadian dental school determined the DAT-PAT, DAT manual dexterity test, and gender were better predictors of preclinical grades than clinical ability. 13 Additionally, specific preparatory courses or academic loads may be a predictor of student success. A study of a master's program focused on preparing students for professional school found DATs and completion of a preprofessional physiology course to be positively related to success in dental school classes.…”

Association of admissions factors with student performance in preclinical operative dentistry

“…[1][2][3][4][5] By increasing the cut-off score, there may be a decrease in the number of students with difficulties in preclinical courses that can lead to remediation, repeating an academic year, or dismissal from the dental program. 1,3 On the other hand, others have found limited to weak correlations between their institution's admissions criteria and students' success in dental school. [6][7][8][9] As a result of these findings, Rowland and Rieken report their institution placing greater emphasis on other factors for admission decisions.…”