Introduction
The Dental Enhancement Program (DEP) was designed to strengthen the preparedness of graduating dentistry students for the Board Licensure Examination for Dentists (BLED) by enhancing their performance in both theoretical and practical components and boosting their exam-related self-confidence. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the DEP in improving student outcomes. Specifically, it assessed students’ performance before and after the program and compared pre-test and post-test results across the theoretical and practical phases of the examination.
Methods
A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test research design was employed in this study. The participants included all 79 graduating dentistry students who took part in the DEP. The data were derived from the students’ scores in the pre-test and post-test of both the theoretical and practical phases of the examination. To determine the effectiveness of the DEP, the pre-test and post-test scores were compared and analyzed using a T-test.
Results
Graduating dental students demonstrated statistically significant improvement following the Dental Enhancement Program (DEP). In the first-semester cohort, theoretical scores increased from 1.52 ± 0.45 to 3.74 ± 0.39 (t = −28.04, p < 0.05), while practical scores rose from 2.15 ± 0.25 to 3.18 ± 0.17 (t = −22.67, p < 0.05). Similarly, in the second-semester cohort, theoretical performance improved from 1.03 ± 0.07 to 2.76 ± 0.44 (t = −24.17, p < 0.05), and practical scores increased from 2.26 ± 0.25 to 3.50 ± 0.19 (t = −23.85, p < 0.05). These results indicate significant enhancement in both theoretical and practical competencies following the intervention.
Conclusion
The DEP effectively enhanced students’ academic and clinical performance, supporting its value in preparing dental graduates for professional examinations.