Value of the Manual Dexterity Test as a Screening Tool for Dental School Admissions

Abstract

The Manual Dexterity Test (MDT) was originally developed in the 1940s as part of the American Dental Association's Dental Aptitude Test to assist in reducing high attrition rates in U.S. dental schools. The Perceptual Motor Ability Test (PMAT) replaced the MDT in 1972 in the U.S., but the MDT continues to be available in Canada. The MDT was originally developed to be used as a screening tool to eliminate those applicants who demonstrated poor psychomotor skills, and it was very effective in doing so. The MDT has been subsequently criticized for not being an effective predictor of performance in dental school. The aim of this study was to determine the level of correlation between MDT scores and psychomotor skills assessment scores in preclinical psychomotor skills courses in the DDS program at Dalhousie University. Three key preclinical psychomotor skills courses were identified, and their course coordinators were asked to identify students who had been accepted into the program but had extremely weak psychomotor skills. Those students’ psychomotor skills scores were then compared to their MDT scores. The results showed that when the student had an MDT score of 10 or less, there was high sensitivity (though low specificity) in identifying students with extremely weak psychomotor skills. Those students with MDT scores of 11 or above were unlikely to have difficulties in psychomotor skills courses. These findings support the MDT's use as a screening tool in the admissions process and a minimum cut‐off score of 11 out of 30.

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

“…4 Another study by Cleghorn et al interested in the predictive value of the MDT found statistically significant positive correlations between MDT scores and their occlusion course, as well as for mean and median scores for 3 of their preclinical courses. 9 On the other hand, Gansky et al found their school's MDT test did not significantly predict students from the bottom 10% of the class after 5 restorative preclinical laboratory courses, and suggested it did not add information to their current admissions criteria. 20 There are some factors that must be addressed when assessing MDT as a predictor for performance, the first being interexaminer and intraexaminer variability.…”

“…21 Studies have shown MDT scores to be predictive of performance in preclinical courses requiring hand skills. 4,9,[22][23][24] One study by Ballard et al showed a positive correlation between chalk carving scores and preclinical operative dentistry course grades. 4 Another study by Cleghorn et al interested in the predictive value of the MDT found statistically significant positive correlations between MDT scores and their occlusion course, as well as for mean and median scores for 3 of their preclinical courses.…”

“…The literature reveals a handful of studies, with conflicting results, that have attempted to determine a correlation between dental school admissions criteria and a student's academic performance. 2,[4][5][6][7][8][9] A study published in 2015 by Carroll & Schuster showed PAT scores were strongly correlated with their school's written and clinical competency exam scores, and were positive predictors for all 3 clinical sections of their exam (operative dentistry, periodontics, and endodontics). 2 While this relationship was statistically significant, the various DAT scores explained only a small amount of variance in the competency exam scores.…”

“…Cleghorn et al of Dalhousie University were interested in determining whether there was value to the manual dexterity test as a screening tool for dental school admissions. 9 Their objective was to determine the level of correlation between their students' MDT scores and psychomotor skills assessment scores in preclinical courses. The results showed that students with an MDT score of 11 or above were unlikely to have difficulties in the courses investigated, whereas a score of 10 or less had high sensitivity (but low specificity) in identifying students with weak psychomotor skills.…”

“…The results showed that students with an MDT score of 11 or above were unlikely to have difficulties in the courses investigated, whereas a score of 10 or less had high sensitivity (but low specificity) in identifying students with weak psychomotor skills. 9 In recent years, there have been complaints from faculty members about the quality of the students being accepted into the program, particularly their lack of manual dexterity. There are 2 conflicting opinions among the professors.…”