Assessing likelihood of using the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency to predict preclinical performance of dental students.

Ammar Musawi,Kneka Smith,Hamid Nurrohman,Travis Barrett,Shalini Bhatia

doi:10.1002/cre2.217

Abstract

ObjectiveThe acquisition of motor skills is a key competency for the practice of dentistry, and innate abilities have been shown to influence motor performance. Thus, finding the most efficient manual dexterity tests may predict performance of dental students. The current study used the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, to assess motor skills of first year (D1) and second year (D2) dental students.Materials and methodsThree fine motor subsets of the BOT‐2—fine motor precision, fine motor integration, and manual dexterity—were administered to D1 and D2 dental students in 2017 and 2018. The BOT‐2 subset scores of D1 students were compared with those of D2 students, who had preclinical dental experiences. For D2 students, we tested for correlations between BOT‐2 subset scores and performance scores in a preclinical operative dentistry course.ResultsNo differences were found between D1 and D2 students for any BOT‐2 subtest scores (all Ps > .09). No correlations were found between total scores of each BOT‐2 subtest and the operative dentistry course for D2 students (all Ps > .20).ConclusionsOur results suggested the BOT‐2 was not predictive of manual skills of dental applicants or preclinical dental students. Although we assumed students would perform well with instruction, practice, and feedback, we were unable to determine whether innate abilities influenced acquisition of manual dexterity skills. More research about the acquisition of technical clinical skills in dentistry is required.

Highlights

The profession of dentistry requires identification of clinical competence through dexterity and other fine motor skills
The American Dental Education Association recommended the use of noncognitive methods in conjunction with traditional cognitive measures when dental schools make admissions decisions (American Dental Education Association, 2017)
No correlations were found between total scores of each BOT-2 subtest and the operative dentistry course for D2 students

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

The profession of dentistry requires identification of clinical competence through dexterity and other fine motor skills. In the United States, dental schools have traditionally relied on applicants' predental cumulative and science grade point averages and on Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores (Ranney, Wilson, & Bennett, 2005) These factors have been shown to have limited predictive value of academic. The Chalk Carving Test, which is a test of manual dexterity, was the only noncognitive component of the DAT It was controversial as a predictor of dental student performance (Chen, Podshadley, & Shrock, 1967; Fernandez-Pabon, 1968), so it was replaced by the Perceptual-motor Ability Test. The BOT-2 is a norm-referenced standardized test developed by Bruininks (Bruininks, 1978; Bruininks & Bruininks, 2005; Deitz, Kartin, & Kopp, 2007) that assesses motor performance It measures fine manual control, manual coordination, body coordination, and strength and agility. We hypothesized that BOT-2 scores of D2 students would be correlated with scores from a preclinical simulation operative dentistry course

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