Examining clinical assessment practices in U.S. dental hygiene programs.
Competency-based education (CBE) in dental hygiene education is intended to measure learned skills that prepare students to independently provide services for the public. A variety of standardized clinical assessment techniques (SCATs) are available to substantiate the competence of health care professionals, including, but not limited to, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), triple jump exams, standardized patients, and simulations. Standardized clinical examinations test students' abilities to treat diverse patients in a consistent, controlled setting. SCATs help prepare clinicians to safely treat patients of various complexities. The objectives of this study were to examine the variety of techniques used to assess clinical competence in U.S. accredited dental hygiene programs and to obtain program directors' attitudes regarding clinic assessment, with a focus on how SCATs are used. An online survey collected data from 125 directors (48 percent response rate). Approximately 97 percent of the responding programs used observation-type assessments followed by case studies (90 percent), self-assessment (85 percent), and mock boards (75 percent), with SCATs being the least used. The majority of responding directors (74 percent) indicated an interest in learning more about these SCATs. A chi-square test identified no significant difference between the use of SCATs by associate and baccalaureate degree programs, with program location also being irrelevant.
Navickis
Marie A
MA
Rock Valley College, 4151 Samuelson Rd., Rockford, IL 61109, USA. m.navickis@rockvalleycollege.edu
Bray
Kimberly Krust
KK
Overman
Pamela R
PR
Emmons
Mary
M
Hessel
Robert F
RF
Cowman
Shaun E
SE
D000288:Administrative Personnel; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000592:standards*; D003479:Curriculum; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States