The effectiveness of a Mock Board experience in coaching students for the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination

A Mock Board is available through the American Dental Association to any student or dental hygiene program as a study aid for the Dental Hygiene National Board Examination (DHNBE). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of this Mock Board as a learning activity to help students gain familiarity with the question formats and the overall board exam experience. A sensitivity-specificity model was applied to validate the Mock Board's accuracy in identifying students who would pass or fail the DHNBE. A survey was conducted to assess students' opinions of the Mock Board experience. The Mock Board accurately identified success or failure on the DHNBE for 75 percent of the participants. However, the Mock Board's sensitivity was much better than its specificity. A majority of students reported the Mock Board motivated them to study and prepared them well for the national board experience. Comments showed, however, that students did not feel the Mock Board experience was as intense as taking the DHNBE. Findings indicate the Mock Board can be a valid and effective addition to board preparation activities. Dental hygiene faculty members are urged to consider incorporating the Mock Board experience with more traditional methods of coaching in preparing students for the DHNBE.