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Does performance on school-administered mock boards predict performance on a dental licensure exam?
Carol M Stewart1, Robert E Bates, Gregory E Smith
1Division of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL 32610-0414, USA. cstewart@dental.ufl.edu
Journal of Dental Education
|April 29, 2004
Summary
Dental school curriculum effectiveness can be linked to state board exam success. Specific mock board and clinical procedure performance, particularly fixed prosthodontics and Class II amalgams, significantly correlated with passing rates on the Florida Dental Licensure Exam.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Professional Licensure Examinations
- Curriculum Assessment
Background:
- Dental licensure exams are key metrics for dental school curriculum effectiveness.
- The University of Florida College of Dentistry (UFCD) analyzes state board exam performance against mock board and clinical productivity data.
- This analysis aims to identify factors influencing state board examination pass rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze first-time performance on the Florida Dental Licensure Exam.
- To compare licensure exam outcomes with senior year mock board performance and clinical productivity.
- To identify specific curriculum components or student activities that correlate with successful licensure.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of Florida Dental Licensure Exam first-time pass rates for graduates from 1996-2003.
- ANOVA was used to compare licensure exam performance with senior mock board results and clinical productivity data (number of procedures).
- Thirteen aspects of mock board performance and four clinical productivity measures were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant relationships were found between four key areas: fixed prosthodontic preparation mock board and licensure exam, Class II amalgam mock board and licensure exam, Class IV composite clinical procedures and licensure exam, and junior/senior year Class II amalgam clinical procedures and licensure exam.
- No significant correlations were found for Class II and IV composites, pin amalgams, endodontics, or periodontal scaling/root planing mock board procedures.
- Similarly, no significance was found between productivity measures for Class II composites, endodontics, crowns/abutments, and periodontal scaling/root planing and licensure exam performance.
Conclusions:
- Performance on specific mock board examinations and completion of certain clinical procedures during dental school are predictive of success on the Florida Dental Licensure Exam.
- Fixed prosthodontics and Class II amalgam procedures demonstrated the strongest correlations.
- Curriculum assessment should consider these specific performance indicators to enhance student preparedness for licensure.