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Research Article
Psychomotor Skills in Root Canal Treatment: Influence of Preclinical Training Time on Clinical Performance and Confidence Level of Undergraduate Dental Students
Rahaf Almohareb
Clinical Dental Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh
Corresponding Author
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Performing root canal treatment is complex and requires the development of psychomotor skills adapted to working without the advantage of vision. Students have allocated special importance to preclinical training in helping them acquire these skills. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the influence of exposure to additional preclinical training on undergraduate students’ confidence level and clinical performance defined by technical quality and quantity of root canal treatment.
Methods: Clinical root canal treatment performed by a cohort of fifth-year undergraduate dental students was followed after half of them attended an additional (elective) endodontic preclinical course the year before. Root canal treatment was radiographically evaluated according to root canal filling length, density and presence of procedural errors. Technical quality and quantity of root canal treatment performed by students who had attended the elective course (attendees) and non-attendees, were compared. All students were also invited to participate in a survey to rate their undergraduate endodontic training and confidence levels performing root canal treatment. Statistical analysis of data was performed using Person chi-square test, Fisher Freeman Halton exact test, and T-test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: No significant difference between the two groups in overall root canal treatment quality (p=0.619) was found. Although elective attendees performed significantly less procedural errors (p=0.004), non-attendees completed more root canal treatments (p=0.012). Despite, no significant difference in the reported level of confidence between the attendees and the non-attendees, significantly more elective attendees rated their undergraduate endodontic training as adequate (p=0.002).
Conclusion: While there was no significant difference in overall technical quality of root canal treatment, nor confidence levels, between both groups, undergraduate students who attended additional preclinical training performed significantly fewer procedural errors. Furthermore, students who attended additional preclinical training were more satisfied with their undergraduate endodontic education.
Keywords
Confidence, Endodontic, Preclinical, Technical Quality, Undergraduate
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
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Posted 16 Dec, 2020
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Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 29 Dec, 2020
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On 13 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Medical Education. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research Article
Psychomotor Skills in Root Canal Treatment: Influence of Preclinical Training Time on Clinical Performance and Confidence Level of Undergraduate Dental Students
Rahaf Almohareb
Clinical Dental Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 1
Posted 16 Dec, 2020
No community comments so far
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 29 Dec, 2020
Editor assigned
On 13 Dec, 2020
Editor invited
On 13 Dec, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 11 Dec, 2020
First submitted
On 01 Dec, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: Performing root canal treatment is complex and requires the development of psychomotor skills adapted to working without the advantage of vision. Students have allocated special importance to preclinical training in helping them acquire these skills. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the influence of exposure to additional preclinical training on undergraduate students’ confidence level and clinical performance defined by technical quality and quantity of root canal treatment.
Methods: Clinical root canal treatment performed by a cohort of fifth-year undergraduate dental students was followed after half of them attended an additional (elective) endodontic preclinical course the year before. Root canal treatment was radiographically evaluated according to root canal filling length, density and presence of procedural errors. Technical quality and quantity of root canal treatment performed by students who had attended the elective course (attendees) and non-attendees, were compared. All students were also invited to participate in a survey to rate their undergraduate endodontic training and confidence levels performing root canal treatment. Statistical analysis of data was performed using Person chi-square test, Fisher Freeman Halton exact test, and T-test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: No significant difference between the two groups in overall root canal treatment quality (p=0.619) was found. Although elective attendees performed significantly less procedural errors (p=0.004), non-attendees completed more root canal treatments (p=0.012). Despite, no significant difference in the reported level of confidence between the attendees and the non-attendees, significantly more elective attendees rated their undergraduate endodontic training as adequate (p=0.002).
Conclusion: While there was no significant difference in overall technical quality of root canal treatment, nor confidence levels, between both groups, undergraduate students who attended additional preclinical training performed significantly fewer procedural errors. Furthermore, students who attended additional preclinical training were more satisfied with their undergraduate endodontic education.