The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on dental school assessments – Current status and future perspectives

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate course directors’ feedback on the assessment methods used during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and identify effective approaches for future assessments in dental education. Methods: Course directors at the US dental schools were surveyed for changes in assessments implemented during the early stages of the pandemic (March–July 2020) using the Qualtrics platform. The survey questions addressed assessment methods utilized in didactic, preclinical, and clinical arenas pre-COVID-19 (before March 2020) and during the early phase of the pandemic (between March and July 2020) and identified any sustained changes in assessments post-COVID-19. Of the 295 responses for the type of courses directed, 48%, 22%, and 30% responses were for didactic, pre-clinical, and clinical assessments, respectively. Chi-square tests and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess quantitative differences. Results: Computer-based un-proctored and remote– proctored assessments increased whereas paper-based in-person proctored assessments decreased during an early pandemic. For pre-clinical and clinical courses, objective-structured clinical exams and case-based assessments increased whereas, for didactic courses, the number of presentations, short-answer, and multiple-choice questions-based assessments increased. Specimen-based assessments and patient-based encounters decreased significantly in didactic and clinical courses, respectively. Manikin-based exams increased in clinical but not in pre-clinical courses. Survey respondents disagreed that alternative assessments helped students learn better, resulted in better course evaluations, or were an equivalent replacement for pre-COVID-19 assessments. Interestingly, 49% of respondents indicated a likelihood of continuing alternative assessments whereas 36% were unlikely and 15% were neutral. Conclusions: A combination of effective pre-pandemic and innovative alternative assessments developed during the pandemic may be the new normal in the dental education curriculum.