Manual Dexterity and Self-Perceived Competence as Predictors of Performance in Dental Skills Assessments: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background As clinical dental procedures demand a high level of precision and motor control manual dexterity is considered a fundamental component in dentistry. In addition to manual dexterity, a dental student's perception of their level of skill may also influence their learning outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between manual dexterity, self-perceived skill levels and performance at skills-based assessments of dental undergraduates. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 114 dental undergraduates in their 3rd year in 2023/2024 at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Each participant completed a self-administered, structured, Likert-type questionnaire which assessed their self-perceived skill level in seven dental procedures. They also completed two manual dexterity tests; the Purdue Pegboard Test and the O’Connor Tweezer Test under direct vision and indirect vision (with use of mirror). Statistical analysis was carried out to assess the correlations between parameters. Results Among the study participants, 71.93% (82 students) were females and 85.96% (98 students) were right-handed. The results of the manual dexterity tests placed the participants within the normal range of healthy adults. A weak correlation was found between some manual dexterity test scores and self-perceived skill levels (Purdue pegboard test non-dominant hand under direct vision p 0.034, O’Connor Tweezer Test under direct vision p 0.032). No statistically significant correlation was found between self-perceived skill levels and skill-based assessment scores. Multiple regression analysis identified weak positive correlations between manual dexterity and Class II cavity preparation on mannequin and teeth setting on a simple hinge articulator. (adjusted R² of 0.046 and 0.117). Conclusion Within the limitations of this study, performance at skill-based assessments of dental undergraduates was found to be associated with their manual dexterity while no association was observed between self-perceived skill levels and performance at skill-based assessments. These findings suggest that incorporating interventions aimed at enhancing manual dexterity of dental students can improve their clinical skills. Further studies with different student samples are needed to confirm these findings.