title: The Hamburg selection procedure for dental students - introduction of the HAM-Nat as subject-specific test for study aptitude.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study examines the question whether the selection of dental students should be based solely on average school-leaving grades (GPA) or whether it could be improved by using a subject-specific aptitude test.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HAM-Nat Natural Sciences Test was piloted with freshmen during their first study week in 2006 and 2007. In 2009 and 2010 it was used in the dental student selection process. The sample size in the regression models varies between 32 and 55 students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Used as a supplement to the German GPA, the HAM-Nat test explained up to 12% of the variance in preclinical examination performance. We confirmed the prognostic validity of GPA reported in earlier studies in some, but not all of the individual preclinical examination results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HAM-Nat test is a reliable selection tool for dental students. Use of the HAM-Nat yielded a significant improvement in prediction of preclinical academic success in dentistry.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Center of Experimental Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kothe
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hissbach
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hampe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001077:Aptitude Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003479:Curriculum; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010811:Natural Science Disciplines / Q000193:education; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012570:School Admission Criteria / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: admission test; prediction of study success; student selection dentistry