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Choosing Wisely: Key Feature Examinations as a Powerful Approach to Foster Clinical Reasoning in Dental Education

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Clinical reasoning is considered a core skill for physicians, and its training should already be addressed in undergraduate medical education. At the University Medical Center Göttingen, students have been able to engage in formative key feature examinations since 2013. Recent studies have shown that these assessments can improve students' clinical reasoning skills. Such a teaching format was not previously existing in the study of dentistry. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of formative key feature examinations in dental education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective, randomised, controlled, crossover study, fourth-year dental students participated in six weekly computer-based seminars in which complex dental patient cases were presented, and the underlying theoretical knowledge was taught. In alternate weeks, groups of students were invited to either read specially prepared text formats (control condition) or solve key feature cases (intervention) that covered the same theoretical content. Each case contained on average six key feature questions (items) referring to the diagnostic procedure and treatment of the patient presented. RESULTS: Feedback from the evaluation questionnaire indicated that dental key feature cases were generally well received. In addition, key feature cases can be successfully integrated into dental education in the form of e-seminars. Learning growth self-assessment of participants showed a significant improvement in the overall learning objectives. Iterative work with key feature cases was clearly associated with significantly greater improvements in exit and retention test scores compared to text-based learning. CONCLUSION: Repeated formative key feature examinations can be effectively implemented in dental education and dental students' clinical reasoning skills can benefit from working on these cases. In addition, strengthening clinical reasoning skills in undergraduate dental education can help to avoid unnecessary dental interventions in future practice, as outlined in the Choosing Wisely recommendations.

Source: European Journal Of Dental Education

DOI: 10.1111/eje.70078

Authors: Marc André Ackermann, Tim Becker, Nima Gholamzadeh Biji, Thomas Meyer, Sabine Sennhenn‐Kirchner

Institutions: Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, University of Göttingen

Language: English

Topic: Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills

Subfield: Family Practice

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,330