Development of virtual radiology clinical competency evaluation amidst COVID-19 at a dental school

Objective: To describe and report on the use of virtual clinical and faculty managed the technology well, with few missed competency examinations (VCCEs) for D3 dental students in a appointments. All students were successful in challenging the radiology clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic and relate the examinations and appeared to be satisfied with the experience. technology to other clinical and educational applications. Conclusions: Although direct comparisons between the CCEs Method and materials: Paper-based clinical competency ex and the new VCCEs are difficult, as there was no time to pilot aminations (CCEs) were converted to three different VCCEs to the VCCEs, students were successful in challenging the exam closely replicate the CCEs. Existing grading rubrics were used inations and informally reported satisfaction with the experi to assess students’ abilities to evaluate technical issues and in ence. Although components of CCEs that could not be repli terpret intraoral full-mouth series and panoramic radiographs. cated on the VCEs could not be assessed, it is felt that the The grading rubrics were modified from their clinical versions students had adequate experience in selection of radiographs to eliminate non-reproducible skills, such as patient manage and patient management prior to the COVID-19 lockdown. Ad ment and application of selection criteria. Radiographs were ditional benefits of the VCCEs included contact with students selected from clinic records and anonymized. VCCEs were con to check on their well-being. The experience indicates that VC ducted via WebEx conferences that were scheduled via an ap CEs can be used in the future in hybrid models of oral & maxil pointment app. These experiences can be extended to virtual lofacial radiology education, clinical care, patient screening, patient contacts, teleradiology, and telemedicine, as well as and telemedicine. Moreover, the success of this demonstration continuing dental education experiences. Results: Approxi points to potential for personalized distance learning in continu mately 200 VCCEs were administered by four oral and maxillo ing dental education. (Quintessence Int 2021;52:896–902; facial radiology faculty over a 10-week period. Both students doi: 10.3290/j.qi.b2053853)