(PR30) Students’ Feelings of Uncertainty (Regarding Assessment of Root-filled Teeth) Is Selectively Affected by Reflection Exercise

Abstract: Uncertainty is inherent in many situations that dentists encounter and can be related to several sources such as lack of scientific knowledge, incomplete information, and one’s own lack of knowledge. The objective of this study was to increase dental students’ awareness of and comfort with uncertainty when assessing the risk for exacerbation of apical periodontitis in root-filled teeth. Fifty-one final-year students were randomized to either a reflection exercise (intervention group), or a control exercise (control group). Before and after the exercise, students completed a questionnaire with questions related to feelings of uncertainty and comfortability. In a second session after 5 months, the experiment was repeated in a crossover manner. At baseline, only 20% of all students reported feeling certain or very certain about assessing the risk for exacerbation of apical periodontitis, yet 84% (43/51) stated feeling comfortable or very comfortable with their ability to handle the situation. After the first session, there were no within-group changes. After five months, 69% (18/26) in the first-session intervention group changed their statements about how certain they thought an experienced colleague would feel (p=0.004). In the second session, 36% (9/25) in the current intervention group changed their statements on how certain they were of their own capacity to handle the case (p=0.039). No within-group changes were found for other questions. The results indicate that the students became more aware of some, but not all, sources of uncertainty after the reflection exercise.