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- Title
Is there value for administering a mock corroborative clinical practicum prior to the final exam? A two-year perspective for 1st year clinical dental hygiene students.
- Authors
Jenkins, Susan J.
- Abstract
Purpose: To asses the value of administering a mock corroborative clinical exam to the beginner learner in reducing anxiety and increasing performance on the final corroborative clinical exam. Hypothesis: A mock corroborative clinical exam administered prior to the final exam will reduce anxiety and therefore increase the comfort level and skill performance of the 1st year dental hygiene student. Method: During the fall 2006 and 2007 a mock corroborative clinical practicum was administered to ninety-three first year pre-clinical dental hygiene students at week eleven of the fourteen week semester and re-administered as a final practicum. During the previous ten weeks of the semester students were introduced to the area-specific curets, universal curet, anterior and posterior sickles. Practice sessions with each instrument were followed with skill evaluations. To prepare for the practicum exam students were given exam guidelines and a sample grade sheet. Students were randomly assigned to two exam groups. Twenty minutes was allotted for each student to demonstrate the correct use of the Gracey 5/6, 13/14, 15/16, and the SH5/33. For the mock exam two faculty evaluated each student; three faculty evaluated the final exam. The grade for the mock exam was not calculated into the grade for the course. Two faculty group leaders and time keepers were designated. The survey instrument consisting of sixteen dichotomous (yes/no) and open-ended (essay) questions was submitted for IRB approval. The survey was administered through the Assessment section of the College’s Blackboard Program (2006) and Zoomerang (2007). Questions to be answered: Do you feel the mock corroborative clinical practicum prepared you for your final corroborative clinical practicum exam? Do you feel that the twenty minutes you were given for the exam was sufficient for the tasks you were asked to perform? Did the grade you received on the final corroborative clinical practicum change significantly from the grade you received for the mock practicum? Results: Ninety three surveys were administered to 1st year dental hygiene students 46 were completed (48%). Eighty-four percent of the respondents felt adequately prepared/less anxious. Eighty-four percent of the respondents felt that week eleven was appropriate place in the curriculum based on the timing of the final exam. Conclusion: Students felt that it was beneficial to have a mock corroborative clinical exam week eleven of the semester to better prepare them for the final exam. The students experienced a decrease in anxiety in knowing what to expect. The results indicated that there was no definitive change in the final grade.
- Publication
Journal of Dental Hygiene, 2008, Vol 82, Issue 5, p55
- ISSN
1043-254X
- Publication type
Academic Journal