Effectiveness of an Early Clinical Exposure Module on the Performance of Second Year Dental Students - A Randomized Controlled Study

Author(s):

Kamal Shigli*, Sushma S Nayak, Banashree Sankeshwari, Deepti Fulari, Swapnil Chopade, Umesh Wadgave, Vasanti Jirge and Vikneshan Murugaboopathy

Purpose: Teaching Prosthodontics to preclinical students has been a challenge as they are not exposed to clinics their understanding is based on imagination of clinical aspects. Early clinical exposure could be used to supplement traditional lectures. This paper presents the results of a study carried out to test the effectiveness of an Early Clinical Exposure module. Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted among 84 second year students in a dental college in India. Control group received didactic lectures and study group received didactic lectures accompanied by a video of the clinical procedure. Two hours of lecture and 16 hours of practical sessions were conducted for both groups. Knowledge of subjects in both the groups was assessed before and after the intervention using MCQs while skills were assessed after intervention using Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE). Paired t test and unpaired t test were used for data analysis. Student feedback regarding ECE was collected using self-designed proforma. Results: The post-intervention, mean MCQ scores in the control and study group were 12.78 ± 2.70 and 14.51 ± 2.03 respectively. There was a significant increase in the mean scores in both the groups after the intervention compared with their baseline values (p=0.003). The mean OSPE scores in the control and study group was 13.97 ± 3.64 and 14.69 ± 3.32 respectively, which was not statistically significant with p=0.377. Students felt that ECE helped in correlation of theory with practical by providing better visualization of the procedure. Conclusion: Early Clinical Exposure module had a positive effect on the scores of students in prosthodontics indicating that ECE could be included as a part of the curriculum.