Dental student skill retention eight months after simulator-supported training in oral radiology

The purpose of this project was to investigate the long-term effects on skill to interpret spatial information in radiographs after conventional and simulator-supported training. The study was a follow-up of a previously reported randomized experimental study. The original study population was comprised of fifty-seven dental students. Forty-five individuals agreed to participate in a follow-up study eight months after completion of the original study. During the time interval between completion of the previous study and the follow-up study, the participants underwent an examination in oral radiology and had theoretical and clinical training in other topics than oral radiology. Skill at interpreting spatial information in radiographs was assessed with a previously used test instrument. The test instrument was identical with the instrument used for baseline assessment in the original study. The results showed that the skill to interpret spatial relations in radiographs eight months after completion of simulator-supported training was significantly better (p=0.01) than before training. The conventional training showed almost the same pattern, but the difference was smaller and not statistically significant (p=0.11). It is concluded that simulator-supported training is a valuable adjunct to conventional educational methods in oral radiology.