Investigating correlations between the PAT and three hand-skill exercises to performance in preclinical laboratory
Terence A Imbery1, Catherine J Malone2, Ali S Alhaddad3
1Department of General Practice, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Journal of Dental Education
|March 31, 2023
Summary
The Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) can predict dental student performance in preclinical courses when scores are categorized. Wax carving showed the strongest correlation with laboratory grades among tested psychomotor skills.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Psychomotor Skills Assessment
- Spatial Perception
Background:
- Currently, no validated psychomotor skill tests exist for dental education.
- The Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) is a known measure of spatial perception.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the correlation between PAT, Operation game, mirror tracing, and wax carving performance with preclinical dental laboratory grades.
- To determine the predictive validity of these tests for dental student success.
Main Methods:
- 96 first-year dental students participated.
- Performance was measured using PAT scores, Operation game completion time/infractions, mirror tracing completion time/errors, and a standardized wax carving exercise graded by faculty.
- Spearman Rank Correlations were employed to analyze data.
Main Results:
- Correlations between most tested psychomotor skills and preclinical performance were weak.
- The wax carving exercise demonstrated the strongest predictive ability.
- PAT scores, when stratified into low, middle, and high ranges, showed predictive capability for both Dental Anatomy and Restorative Dentistry laboratory performance.
Conclusions:
- Stratified PAT scores can predict preclinical laboratory performance in dental students.
- While weak, the wax carving exercise showed the most consistent relationship with laboratory grades.
- Further research into validated psychomotor assessments for dentistry is warranted.
