Preparedness of Dental Undergraduates for Clinical Practice: A Comparison Between Evaluations by Students and Academic Faculty

Introduction: Undergraduate dental education aims to equip students with scientific knowledge, clinical skills, and behavioral attributes to prepare them for a career in independent dental practice after graduation. The purpose of this study was to compare self-reported preparedness of undergraduate dental students with evaluations by their clinical supervisors. Methods: A probability sampling technique was used to recruit final year dental students at a university in the Middle East. Preparedness of the students was assessed using a previously validated dental preparedness assessment scale encompassing 50 core clinical skills (Part A) as well as cognitive attributes and behavioral skills (Part B). The participating students were also evaluated by their clinical supervisors. Results: A total of 52 of the 70 students invited provided their responses, yielding a response rate of 74.28%. In addition, four clinical supervisors also evaluated the preparedness of the participants. The mean student ratings of their preparedness were significantly higher than ratings provided by their supervisors for Part A, t (93.13) = 7.48, p < 0.001; Part B, t (101.46) = 7.25, p < 0.001; and overall, t (98.48) = 8.25, p < 0.001. Discussion: This study compared students' self-perceived preparedness for dental practice with evaluations by their supervisors. The students rated their preparedness to be higher compared to the evaluations by their supervisors, indicating weak correlations between self-perceived preparedness and supervisors' evaluation. Nevertheless, evaluation by supervisors provides a powerful tool for students to compare their self-assessment and reflect on their strengths and weaknesses for work readiness after graduation.