EVALUATING PSYCHOMOTOR SKILLS OF THE SÜLEYMAN DEMIREL UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF DENTISTRY STUDENTS BY 9-HOLE PEG TEST

Aim: To measure and evaluate the effects of the curriculum applied in the Faculty of Dentistry on the psychomotor skills of the students. Design: The study was carried on 416 volunteer students. Participants were put to the "9-hole peg test" (9-HPT). The results were classified by considering the students' grades (1-5), gender (male and female), and the test hand (dominant/non-dominant) variables. Methods: Although there is an improvement in the 9-HPT completion time among the dominant (DH) and non-dominant hands (NDH) of the participants in the second and third grades, it is not statistically significant. Results: In this study, psychomotor proficiency development, considered a basic competence in the dentistry profession, was measured by the "9-HPT". The results are significant in measuring, comparing, and developing this competence by different educational methods.