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15-Point versus pass/fail grading in orthodontic education: A randomized controlled trial.
Marina Julia Bialas1, Jonas Q Schmid1, Claudius Middelberg1
1Department of Orthodontics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Journal of Dental Education
|December 20, 2024
Summary
A 15-point grading system slightly improved orthodontic appliance quality in dental education compared to pass/fail. While beneficial, the clinical significance varied across courses, with female students outperforming males.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Orthodontics
- Assessment Methods
Background:
- Limited evidence exists comparing grading systems' impact on manual skills in dental education.
- Orthodontic appliance fabrication is a key manual skill assessed in dental curricula.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the influence of a 15-point grading system versus a pass/fail system on the quality of orthodontic appliances produced by dental students.
- To determine if a detailed grading system enhances manual dexterity and technical outcomes in orthodontic training.
Main Methods:
- A parallel-group randomized controlled trial involving 139 predoctoral dental students across three orthodontic courses.
- Students were randomly assigned to a 15-point grading system (test group) or a pass/fail system (control group).
- Orthodontic appliances were assessed by calibrated dentists using standardized criteria; data analyzed with Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests.
Main Results:
- Slightly higher mean quality scores for orthodontic appliances were observed in the 15-point grading group across all courses.
- A statistically significant difference favoring the 15-point system was found only in the third course (p=0.0222).
- Female participants demonstrated superior performance compared to male participants in all three courses (p=0.0207).
Conclusions:
- Implementing a 15-point grading system shows a positive trend in improving orthodontic appliance quality in dental education.
- The observed differences were marginal and clinically meaningful in only one of the three evaluated courses.
- The study suggests a potential benefit of detailed grading systems for manual skill development in orthodontics, with notable gender-based performance variations.
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