Boards Timing and Clinical Performance

Objectives:

To examine the relationship between when students take Part I of the National Dental Boards (NBDE1) and their completion of clinical restorative requirements.

Methods:

UCLA School of Dentistry Classes of 2008 and 2009 were surveyed to learn when they took NBDE1; their perception of the ideal time to take the Boards; and their satisfaction with their performance on the Boards. Progress toward individual's completion of clinical restorative requirements was obtained from the Division of Restorative Dentistry.

Data were analyzed for correlations between students' responses and their timely completion of clinical requirements.

Results:

Response rates were 87% of the Class of 2009 and 65% of the Class of 2008. Findings include: 56% of 2009 and 52% of 2008 skipped clinic sessions to study for NBDE1; the average time missed per student was 22 clinic sessions (2009) and 27 sessions (2008), (approximately 1/3 of the available summer clinic sessions); correlations of 0.18 (2009) and 0.08 (2008) were found between when students took the Boards and the number of completed restorative procedures; student plans to specialize correlated -0.28 (2009) and 0.07 (2008) with when they took NBDE1; and correlations between performance on NBDEI and the date the exam was taken were -0.08 (2009) and -0.12 (2008).

Conclusions:

Irrespective of when students take NBDE1, preparation for it does influence clinic attendance, however, absence from summer clinic does not seem to relate to progress in completing clinic requirements. This study will assist the School's Curriculum Committee in determining if a mandatory deadline for completion of NBDE1 is warranted and how the current practice of no deadline is affecting students' clinic performance.