Comparing traditional and comprehensive clinical training methods in dental education: a study of students' self-confidence and clinical performance

Aim To compare students' self-confidence levels and clinical performance scores between traditional and comprehensive clinical training methods in dental schools in India. Methods A snowball sampling of undergraduate dental students who had completed their final year during 20212022 was undertaken. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to investigate students' self-confidence in performing 35 clinical procedures on a 5-point Likert scale. Additionally, the clinical performance score in external practical assessment during final year was assessed to correlate the self-confidence levels with traditional and comprehensive clinical training methods. Results Students reported a higher level of self-confidence trained under the comprehensive (3.41 +/- 0.40) compared with the traditional method (3.07 +/- 0.50) ( p < 0.05). Interestingly, the median clinical performance score was higher for students using the traditional method (2.88) than for those using the comprehensive method (2.44); however, no significant difference was observed (p = 0.460). The correlation between self- confidence and clinical performance scores was strongly positive (r = 0.521). Conclusion This study concluded that both traditional and comprehensive clinical training methods have strengths and weaknesses. Combining these two methods could improve clinical training in India.