List of Poster Presentations - Journal of Dental Education

Poster Abstracts
102. Noncognitive Predictors of Failure in Dental School
Stark, Alan M., Temple University School of Dentistry, Deem,
Lisa, Temple University School of Dentistry, Stark, Mary Jean, Manor
College Dental Hygiene Program
The purpose of this research is to determine if data from
noncognitive domains are useful in predicting failure in dental school.
Educators, who sit on the admissions committee of a dental
school, constantly wrestle with the question: If admitted, will this
student pass all courses? The admissions process consists of a careful
review of cognitive credentials of prospective candidates, including
consideration of total undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) and
scores on the Dental Admissions Test (DAT). These two cognitive
criteria compose the majority of the data used to determine which
candidates were offered admission to dental school. Each year, however,
a number of students fail to make adequate progress, and are required
to remediate a course, repeat a year of dental school or are asked to
leave school. Why do some students fail to make adequate progress?
The purpose of this research is to examine noncognitive domains (as
defined by the Learning Assessment and Study Skills Inventory,
Weinstein, Schulte & Palmer, 1987) to determine if the data provided
enhance the ability to correctly classify students at Temple University
School of Dentistry into one of two groups: those who pass and those
who fail (N=346). Discriminant Analysis (DA) was used to interpret
the data. DA is a robust statistical tool that allows the researcher to
evaluate two objectives: assess the adequacy of classification of students
(descriptive function), and assign students to one of two groups
(predictive function). It is apparent from the analysis of the data using
DA that scores in noncognitive domains have the ability to increase the
strength of agreement when classifying participants in this study into
one of two groups: those who pass and those who fail. This research,
therefore, establishes a new paradigm for evaluating candidates for
admission to Temple University School of Dentistry.
This study confirms the assertions of numerous authors that
cognitive tests provide “threshold” criteria for admission to graduate
training. These authors contend and this study confirms that, once
the threshold criteria are met, noncognitive data are useful in the
decision to admit candidates to dental school.
103. Remote Dental Consultation: Consumer
Perspectives
McGee, M K., University of Pennsylvania School of Dental
Medicine, Stewart, Denice CL., Oregon Health & Science University
School of Dentistry, Stewart, Jeffery CB, Oregon Health & Science
University School of Dentistry, Artz, Noam, University of
Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Galbally, James F.,
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Fonseca,
Raymond J., University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Purpose: Determine and describe consumer perspectives and
acceptance of an Internet-accessible, asynchronous remote dental
consultation system (RDCS).
Significance: Increasing access to specialty consultation may
be of clinical value to dental consumers and expand access to dental
school faculty expertise; however, little is known about consumer
acceptance of Internet-based dental consultation.
Methods: A remote dental consultation system for dentists has
been developed and tested with practitioners with overall positive
results. To assess the perspective of dental consumers, patients of
both a school-affiliated provider network and of the dental school
participated in surveys and discussion. Volunteers completed a prediscussion
survey, participated in a guided discussion, and completed
a post-discussion survey.
Results: Twenty-six consumers participated in pre/post surveys
and the discussion. Key findings include: 1. When asked how much
time would need to be saved to make Internet consultation worthwhile
vs. traveling to a specialist, 42% indicated 1 hour. 2. In pre/post comparisons, consumer
acceptance declined after the discussion, although they remained very
positive overall: e.g., agreement with “letting my dentist use the
Internet to send my records to another dentist is a good idea” declined
from 89% to 81% (pre mean 1.62, post-mean 1.88, scale 1=strongly
agree to 5-strongly disagree, pr’d t-test, p=0.03). 3. In discussion,
two main reasons for the decline in consumer confidence were noted:
a. significance of cost saving - saving half the cost increased agreement
for most participants, and b. fear of being “HMO’s out of service”,
and loss of personal interaction with the specialist. However,
participants indicated their views would be no different for an Internet
based consultation than for a mailed consultation.
Consumers have concerns about Internet based consultation but
are overall positive about the potential.
104. Assessment of the Need for a Dental Hygiene
Master’s Program
Testerman, Deborah L., Texas Woman’s University
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the need for a dental
hygiene master’s degree program by surveying currently licensed
dental hygienists.
There is a continued growth of dental hygiene programs in the
U.S. and a limited number of dental hygiene master’s degree programs
to staff this need. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the need
for a master’s degree program by surveying currently licensed dental
hygienists. An eleven-item questionnaire was used to survey 263
dental hygiene graduates from a baccalaureate program. The
questionnaire consisted of information on demographics, desire to
pursue a higher education degree, and future educational needs. Of
the surveys returned, 48% (N=127) had been completed for analysis.
Data analyses, including frequencies and percent were conducted in
SPSS. Common themes were tallied for answers to open ended
questions. The demographics proved to be consistent with the
population. Twenty-one percent of the respondents reported that they
would pursue a graduate degree. Common reasons reported included:
advancing the dental hygiene profession, personal education, and
preparation for teaching. The respondents listed the following four
interdisciplinary courses they would like to have offered: business
(49.6%), computer science (41.7%), community health (41.7%), and
geriatrics (41.7%). Twenty-two percent of respondents reported that
they were likely to change careers in the next five years. Reasons
cited were physical demands, stress, and burnout. Personal goal
(65.4%) is the primary reason to pursue a master’s degree.
Respondents stated that a breadth of subjects, diversity of students,
level of family responsibilities, time, money, and age are issues. If a
graduate degree were pursued the respondents would like to have a
variety of courses to choose from and would need flexibility and
creative scheduling. Finally, 57.5% of the respondents believed that
obtaining a graduate degree in dental hygiene would increase their
career opportunities. The dental hygiene profession needs to pursue
interdisciplinary, dental hygiene offerings to address needs of students
and the profession.
If a graduate degree were pursued the respondents would like
to have a variety of courses to choose from and would need flexibility
and creative scheduling. Finally, 57.5% of the respondents believed
that obtaining a graduate degree in dental hygiene would increase
their career opportunities.
105. Presenting Dental Careers to High School Students
Thomas, Denee, University of Texas Health Science Center at San
Antonio Dental School, MacDougall, Mary, University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio Dental School
290 Journal of Dental Education ■ Volume 66, No. 2