Differences in clinical grading associated with instructor status

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the clinical evaluation of pre-doctoral students is associated with instructor status. The hypothesis was that there would be no association between instructor status and clinical evaluation grades.

Retrospective analysis of pre-doctoral clinical evaluations for class II amalgams, class III composites, and periodontal scaling and root planing was performed. The grade averages were based on a rank scale. Descriptive statistics were computed to summarise the predictor and outcome variables. Bivariate statistics were computed to evaluate any associations between the predictors and outcomes. Multiple linear regression models were computed to evaluate the simultaneous effects of multiple predictors on clinical evaluations.

The study sample consisted of 238 class II amalgams, 246 class III composites, and 675 scaling and root planings which occurred between August 2003 and June 2005. The procedure averages for these procedures were 1.8 +/- 0.67, 1.8 +/- 0.66 and 2.1 +/- 0.56 respectively. The management averages were 2.0 +/- 0.63, 1.5 +/- 0.58 and 1.4 +/- 0.54 respectively. In bivariate analyses, faculty status was associated with treatment averages for all three procedures.

Faculty status was associated with treatment score for all three procedures evaluated. Full-time faculty gave the best grades for restorative procedures. For periodontal procedures, part-time faculty gave the best grades. More studies are warranted to elucidate the nature behind these differences.