(PO-042) Preparation and Anxiety in a Redesigned Competency-Based Course in Orthodontics

Author: Kesar Shah, B.S., M.S. – NYU College of Dentistry
Author: Rebecca Sirota, B.A.
Author: Shahen Yashpal, M.S.C.
Author: Hiral Rakholia, M.B.S.
Author: Mitchell J. Lipp, D.D.S. – Clinical Professor, NYU College of Dentistry
Submitter: Rebecca Sirota, B.A.

Objective: In a D3 Orthodontics course at NYU Dentistry, untested changes in instruction, including cold calling, occurred after the COVID pandemic. Since cold calling could affect students’ attitudes toward learning, the aim of this study was to: establish a post COVID baseline for students’ preparation and anxiety.
 

Methods: After a five-session remote synchronous course, students completed a voluntary anonymous online survey with a five-point Likert response scale, prior to summative assessment and knowledge of grade.  Two items related to student preparation, two to intrinsic motivation were analyzed. Four separate instructional groups (AY 2020-2021 Nf195) were randomly selected. Aggregate Data was analyzed using Kruskal Wallis (KW) Test to determine differences between the median response across student groups and survey questions. Post-hoc, the Pairwise Mann-Whitney test with Bonferroni correction was used.
 

Results: Mean response rates for the four groups were 98%.  For all statements, the median response was “agree”. The KW test did not show significant differences among groups for preparation or anxiety (P > 0.05). The KW test was significant across the survey items (H=24.87 df=3 P < 0.0001). Post-hoc Pairwise Mann-Whitney test revealed that one of the anxiety items (“cold calling made me worry about what others think of me”), was significantly different from other items (z=4.02 P < 0.0083; z=4.37 P < 0.0083; z=3.61 P < 0.0083). 

Conclusion: Cold calling increased student preparation and anxiety. Students agreed that they were more prepared compared to other courses and more prepared when they expected to be cold called. Most students strongly agreed that cold calling made them nervous. However, in response to, “cold calling made me worry about what others think of me,” the responses were more evenly distributed. Based on this study, the new methods introduced, including cold-calling will be continued for AY 2021-2022.This project establishes a new outcomes-based baseline for future studies.