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Are we really as good as we think we are?
A W Evans1, B Aghabeigi, R Leeson
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Eastman Dental Institute for Oral Health Care Sciences, University College London, UK.
Many oral and maxillofacial surgery trainees and MSc postgraduates overestimate their surgical skills after lower third molar extraction. This self-assessment discrepancy highlights a need for improved feedback in surgical education.
Area of Science:
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
- Surgical Education
- Medical Self-Assessment
Background:
- Accurate self-assessment is crucial for surgical competency development.
- Previous studies suggest potential discrepancies between trainee self-perception and objective performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare assessment and self-assessment scores of trainees and postgraduates.
- To evaluate self-perceived surgical skill levels after lower third molar removal.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of assessment and self-assessment scores.
- Focus on oral and maxillofacial surgery trainees and MSc postgraduates.
- Specific procedure: surgical removal of lower third molar teeth.
Main Results:
- Significant differences observed between assessment and self-assessment scores.
- Many participants demonstrated an over-rating of their surgical abilities.
- This overestimation was noted in both trainees and postgraduates.
Conclusions:
- A concerning trend of overconfidence in surgical skills exists among trainees and postgraduates.
- The findings underscore the importance of objective assessment and feedback in surgical training.
- Further research into effective methods for improving self-awareness in surgical performance is warranted.
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