Waxing tests as predictors of students' performance in preclinical dentistry

Poor prediction of psychomotor performance in dentistry using traditional admissions tests and prior academic performance, as well as the serious consequences of poor performance for both students and faculty, suggest that better predictors are needed. Two tests of waxing skill were incorporated into the first semester freshman dental anatomy course and administered to one class of 131 students. Data were collected for eight preclinical performance measures. Results showed that neither the academic portion of the DAT nor the entering grade point average predicted performance on any of the psychomotor measures at a statistically significant level. In all cases, the first, second, or both waxing tests were better predictors than the perceptual portion of the DAT. These waxing tests may be useful in the early identification of students with psychomotor deficiencies for admissions decisions and/or for designing and evaluating the effectiveness of early instructional intervention strategies on performance.