Continuous Clinical Assessment as a Predictor of Clinical Competence

Researchers have previously attempted to determine predictors of successful performance by using results of various assessment techniques. Unfortunately predictors of clinical competency do not appear to be frequently used in a competency based dental curriculum. A possible predictor of clinical competency for dental undergraduates may be found, by comparing the students continuous clinical assessment mark with their clinical assessment marks. Objectives: This study compared each student's continuous clinical assessment with their summative clinical assessments in Paedodontics, Crown and Bridge-work, Endodontics and Basic Restorative Dentistry. Methods: The baseline to determine clinical competence was 60 %. Comparisons of each student's continuous clinical assessment and clinical assessments in the different disciplines were undertaken for the 39 BChD V undergraduates and the 59 BChD IV undergraduates, for the 2004 academic year. Comparisons were made between the continuous clinical assessments and the clinical assessments in the disciplines of Crown and Bridge-work, Paedodontics and Endodontics for the BChD V group and Basic Restorative Dentistry for the BChD IV group. The data was analysed using a 2-sample t-test. Results: The differences between the students mean clinical assessments and the mean continuous clinical assessments for Crown and Bridgework (p = 0.00), Endodontics (p= 0.03) and Basic Restorative Dentistry (p = 0.00) were significant. There was no significant difference between the mean clinical assessment and mean continuous clinical assessment for Paedodontics (p= 0.22). However the mean clinical assessment for Crown and Bridgework was below 60 % suggesting that in this study continuous clinical assessment could not be used as predictor of clinical competence for this discipline. Conclusion: Continuous clinical assessment can be used as a predictor of clinical competence for the disciplines of Paedodontics, Endodontics and Basic Restorative Dentistry. Further studies are required to determine a predictor of clinical competence for Crown and Bridgework.