Assessing Decision-Making in Education of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate whether a concordance assessment (CA) software application is able to assess decisionmaking in restorative and prosthetic dentistry. Materials and Methods: Vignettes representing 10 different clinical situations were integrated into a software application. Each vignette included 3D digital models and a short case, as well as 5 therapeutic options rated on a 4-point Likert scale (?2 = strongly contraindicated; ?1 = contraindicated; +1 = indicated; +2 = strongly indicated). A panel of 15 dental educators (9 educators from a department of prosthetic dentistry [PD] and 6 from a department of conservative dentistry [CD]) evaluated the indication of each of the 5 therapies for the 10 vignettes. Results: This pilot questionnaire showed good internal consistency in most therapies (Cronbach?s = 0.86), with the exception of more recently introduced therapies (overlay/veneerlay and endocrown). Out of a maximum score of 100, the mean score for CD educators (79.2 � 3.2) was not significantly different (P= .73) from that of a PD educator (77.8 � 3.5). Scores ranged from 66.8 to 89.6. Analysis of the expert panel?s responses also mostly reported (34/50) a distribution of responses that was characteristic of CA and uncertain situations. Conclusion: The present software application was able to reproduce and assess decision-making in dentistry with satisfying internal consistency of educators. Int J Prosthodont 2021;34:585?590. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.11607/ijp.7228