Dexterity examinations as a preadmission criterion in dental hygiene programs: A phenomenological study

Abstract

Clinical aptitude is a vital component of dental hygiene education and practice due to the dexterity needed to manipulate dental instruments for patient treatment and care. Preadmission criteria are primarily based on academic standards with a select few using dexterity examinations (DEs) as a preadmission requirement. This phenomenological research study examined the perceptions of dental hygiene program department chairs surrounding DEs as a preadmission requirement. The primary purpose of this study was to identify how DEs are used as a criterion for preadmission into dental hygiene programs, to identify any challenges and obstacles associated with their use and determine if DEs are perceived as a valid and reliable tool to assess the fine motor skills of dental hygiene applicants. Using semi-structured interviews, rich data was collected from eight participants. After performing a thematic analysis, several themes emerged surrounding the use of DEs as a preadmission criterion: participants knowledge of DEs, obstacles with implementation, positive impacts of implementation, student applicants have a lower level of dexterous ability, and perceived validity and reliability as an evaluative tool to assess the fine motor skills of applicants. The results of the research study uncovered insights and perspectives of dental hygiene program department chairs as to the use, feasibility of implementation, validity, and reliability of DEs. Results revealed reasons precluding programs from using DEs as a preadmission requirement which included: admissions, a large number of applicants to screen, and historical reasons. Programs that do use DEs as a preadmission requirement were able to offer guidance for other programs communicating their methods of implementation and the positive impacts administering DEs has had on their department. Positive impacts included identifying the dexterous ability of applicants, ease of use to administer, and reducing program attrition rates. This study has brought new information and knowledge to the discipline of dental hygiene education and laid the foundation for future studies surrounding DEs and their ability to add additional methods of clinical assessment to current preadmission criteria.