Dental Hygiene Program Directors' Knowledge and Implementation of OSCE Testing

Abstract

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) have been established as a gold standard assessment for determining clinical competence. The Coalition for Dental Licensure Reform called for the acceptance of the Dental Licensure Objective Structured Clinical Examination (DLOSCE) to replace the live-patient examinations (LPE) for dental licensure, which are often viewed as biased, unreliable, and in some cases unethical. The purpose of this study was to assess dental hygiene program directors’ awareness of and attitudes toward a DLOSCE, whether their curricula included OSCEs, and perceived barriers to implementing OSCE’s. Methods: IRB Exemption was obtained (HUM00147564). A nine-question electronic survey was developed, pilot tested by five-dental hygiene program directors across three-dental hygiene institutions and was then emailed to 332 dental hygiene program directors across the United States. Results: A response rate of 36% (n=121) was achieved. Nearly 30% of respondents were unaware of the developing DLOSCE, however 80% were in favor of the decision. Nearly 75% considered OSCEs as valid assessments of clinical competence. Over half of program directors reported not currently utilizing OSCE in their curricula. Time (22%), perceived lack of best practices (21%), and lack of resources (18%) were reported as significant barriers. Program directors who currently employed OSCE’s were more likely to agree OSCEs were both valid and reliable assessments (p=.05). Conclusion: The majority of dental hygiene program directors were in favor of eliminating the single-encounter, LPE in favor of an OSCE for licensure. However, more than half do not currently utilize OSCEs for clinical assessments within their programs. Further studies should explore implementation of OSCEs in dental hygiene education, and how a potential Dental Hygiene Licensure-OSCE might impact the current educational curricula and licensure of dental hygienists in the United States.