Assessment of a New Summative Evaluation Challenge “Fluoride Application for Incipient Caries of Permanent Teeth”

Abstract

 Abstract In Fukuoka Dental College, summative evaluation has been carried out to assess student performance, in which we set our objectives to be those required in the clinical practice of dentistry. The aim of this study was to judge the educational effects of our summative evaluation of the students and to survey the patients’ understanding and satisfaction.

 In 2015, 67 fifth-year students attempted the Advanced OSCE, the objective of which was “fluoride application for incipient caries of permanent teeth,” and two evaluators were assigned to each student to assess that objective. Following the summative evaluation, we gave a questionnaire survey to both the students and patients.

 The overall assessment of the summative evaluation by the evaluators was generally good, with grades averaging 8.6 points on a 10-point scale. In the student evaluation focusing on the objective of explaining the recalcification of enamel to patients, the average score was 1.85 on a 2-point scale, and 79% of the students improved their explanations and helped increase the patients’ understanding. In the patient evaluation, 94% of patients were able to understand the improved explanation by the student, and 48% of the patients wanted to receive future fluoride treatments, while 49% indicated that they might receive future fluoride treatments.

 This summative evaluation could be useful for improving students’ understanding of incipient caries of permanent teeth and for increasing their fluoride treatment skills. We believe that by providing feedback, the students’ knowledge and skills will be deepened, and the patients will also benefit.