Is there a link between writing ability, drawing aptitude and manual skills of dental students?

Abstract

In France, students have to choose between medical or dental courses, according to their rank, after a competitive examination at the end of their first year of study. Intellectual ability is evaluated, while manual competence is not, and this is a paradox. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether it is possible to predict the manual aptitude of a dental student through tests that allow the qualities of reflection and organization to be judged. We administered writing tests and drawing tests to 45 students of the Bordeaux dental school to ascertain whether there was a correlation between the competitive examination, the criterion examined (reflection, organization, aesthetics em leader) and the results of the dental practical assessments during the first year of dental study. The results showed that although manual competence in dental practical work, graphic qualities and writing skills are connected, it is difficult to correlate them directly with competitive examination performance. In view of the number of uncontrolled variables influencing the students' outcome, is it useful to be able to predict who will become a good practitioner? One indication may be found in the moral reasoning of candidates.