Haptically-enabled Simulators in Dentistry for Assessment of Psychomotor Performance

Haptically-enabled Simulators in Dentistry for Assessment of Psychomotor Performance Grace Tern¹, Guneet Kukreja¹ and Barry F.A. Quinn² ¹ King’s College London, UK ² University of Liverpool. UK Objectives This research explores how haptically-enabled operative dentistry tasks can be used to provide accurate assessment and comparison of psychomotor skills between fourth and fifth-year dental students. Methods In this anonymous, non-interventional study that required no ethical approval, fourth- and fifth-year dental students (n=227) were issued two tasks involving the removal of a cross-shaped target whilst minimising encroachment onto the 0.2mm leeway space and the outer container, using direct vision (MAN04) and indirect vision (MAN11). Students were to submit their best attempt. No limits on the number of attempts or time constraints were imposed, but students had to submit MAN04 before progressing to MAN11. For guidance, tutors set “clinically acceptable” parameters: removal of ≥96% target, ≤7% leeway and