Survey of dental students’ perception of ubiquitous-based test (UBT)

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of dental students in a dental school where the ubiquitous-based test (UBT) system has been implemented for several years. The research explored differences in perceptions based on respondents' characteristics and identified possibilities for improving the UBT system.This study surveyed fourth-year dental students who had taken the UBT exams for two years. A questionnaire covered respondent characteristics, UBT system perceptions, convenience, reliability, and comparison of UBT and paper-based test (PBT). The responses were measured on a 5-point Likert scale for all items except for some respondent characteristics. Analysis employed descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and Spearman's correlation at a significance-level of p<0.05.A total of 157 responses were analyzed, including 86 respondents in 2021 and 71 in 2022. The respondents' general characteristics were similar across both years. Students exhibited positive perceptions towards the introduction of the UBT system and its convenience. However, their preference for UBT over PBT was less pronounced. Female students had higher tablet ownership rates than males. Gender-based and tablet ownership-based differences were observed in several items, such as tablet usage frequency and interest in new technologies. The strong correlations were identified between PBT and UBT assessment results.With user-centered interface enhancements and the incorporation of multimedia items, the UBT system will be effectively utilized in dental education as a valuable tool for both instruction and assessment.