Effectiveness of “fill in the blanks” over multiple choice questions in assessing final year dental undergraduates

Background: Possibility of guessing in Multiple Choice questions (MCQ) when assessing undergraduates is considered a weakness. There are limited studies on the use of “Fill in the Blanks” (FIB) to overcome this issue. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of FIB in MCQ for assessing final year dental undergraduates. Methods and materials: A total of 134 final year dental undergraduates were randomly assigned to Group A and B. Group A was given a questionnaire with fifteen single best answer MCQ questions, and then the FIB questionnaire (which included the same questions in FIB form). At the same time Group B was given the FIB questionnaire initially, and then the MCQ questionnaire in the given period of time. The mean scores of the two groups were then compared. Results: Group A obtained a mean score of 10.94 (SD ± 3.203) for MCQ, and 10.48 (SD ± 2.993) for FIB, whereas Group B obtained a mean score of 6.8 (SD ± 2.949) for FIB and 10.05 (SD ± 2.619) for MCQ. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean scores obtained for the two types of tests between Group A (P = .04) and Group B (P = .0001). The difference in the mean scores obtained for the FIB were statistically significant (P = .0001) between the groups, whereas the results were not statistically significant for MCQ (P = .127). Conclusion: MCQ results revealed that the knowledge of the two groups was similar. The differences in the scores obtained for the two types of assessment tools suggest further research is needed to investigate the factors that led to the above observation. Resumen: Antecedentes: Posibilidad de valorar si las preguntas de opción múltiple (MOM) son el punto débil cuando se evalúa a los estudiantes de último año. Hay estudios limitados sobre el uso de «rellenar los espacios en blanco» (REB) para superar este problema. Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de REB sobre MOM en la evaluación de los estudiantes de último año de odontología. Métodos y materiales: Se asignó aleatoriamente a un total de 134 estudiantes universitarios de último año de odontología a los grupos A y B. Al grupo A se le entregó un cuestionario con 15 MOM para seleccionar la mejor opción y luego un cuestionario REB (que incluía las mismas preguntas con planteamiento REB). Al mismo tiempo, al grupo B se le entregó el cuestionario REB inicialmente y luego el cuestionario MOM en el período de tiempo determinado. A continuación se compararon las notas medias de los 2 grupos. Resultados: Un grupo obtuvo una puntuación media de 10,94 (DE ± 3,203) en MOM y de 10,48 (DE ± 2,993) en el REB, mientras que el grupo B obtuvo una puntuación media de 6,8 (DE ± 2,949) en el REB y de 10,05 (DE ± 2,619) en el MOM. Hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre las notas medias obtenidas de los 2 tipos de pruebas entre el grupo A (p = 0,04) y el grupo B (p = 0,0001). La diferencia en las notas medias obtenidas del REB fue estadísticamente significativa (p = 0,0001) entre los grupos, mientras que los resultados no fueron estadísticamente significativos en el MOM (p = 0,127). Conclusión: Los resultados del MOM revelaron que el conocimiento de los 2 grupos era similar. Las diferencias en las notas obtenidas de los 2 tipos de instrumentos de evaluación sugieren que se necesita más investigación para analizar los factores que llevaron a la reflexión anterior. Keywords: Fill in the blanks, Multiple choice questions, Guessing, Effectiveness, Palabras clave: Rellenar los espacios en blanco, Preguntas de opción múltiple, Valorar, Eficaci

Squamous cell carcinoma arising from a keratocystic odontogenic tumor: a case report

Abstract Background The term “primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma” was introduced in 2005 by the World Health Organization with three subcategories. Squamous cell carcinoma arising from the lining of an odontogenic cyst is one important rare subcategory of such lesions with an incidence of 0.01 to 0.02%. Furthermore, the appearance of such malignancy in an odontogenic tumor such as keratocystic odontogenic tumor is considered extremely rare. Case presentation In this case report we report a case of a 50-year-old Sri Lankan woman who complained of pain and increase in the size of a swelling at the anterior mandible, which had been present for over 1 year. The increase was significant for 1 month with accompanying numbness of the left half of her lip. Cone beam computed tomography results revealed an irregular radiolucent lesion involving most of her mandible and, except in the anterior part, very little buccolingual expansion was seen that suggested a keratocystic odontogenic tumor. An excision biopsy of the cyst lining confirmed a squamous cell carcinoma arising from a preexisting keratocystic odontogenic tumor. Conclusions Even though primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma arising from a keratocystic odontogenic tumor is considered to be very rare, the present case is comparable to most of the aspects cited in the literature. The current case emphasizes the importance of careful investigation of swellings present in the mandible. Clinicians as well as patients should be aware and detect these changes to avoid being clinically negligent