Using a situational judgement test for selection into dental core training: a preliminary analysis

Objective and setting This paper describes the evaluation of a pilot situational judgement test (SJT) for selection into UK Dental Core Training (DCT). The SJT's psychometric properties, group differences based on gender and ethnicity, and candidate reactions were assessed.Methods The SJT targets four non-academic attributes important for success in DCT. Data were collected alongside live selection processes from five Health Education England local teams in the UK (N = 386). Candidates completed the pilot SJT and an evaluation questionnaire to examine their reactions to the test.Results SJT scores were relatively normally distributed and showed acceptable levels of internal reliability (α = 0.68). Difficulty level and partial correlations between scenarios and SJT total score were in the expected ranges (64.61% to 90.03% and r = 0.06 to 0.41, respectively). No group differences were found for gender, and group differences between White and BME candidates were minimal. Most candidates perceived the SJT as relevant to the target role, appropriate and fair.Conclusions This study demonstrated the potential suitability of an SJT for use in DCT selection. Future research should replicate these preliminary findings in other cohorts, and assess the predictive validity of the SJT for predicting key training and practice-based outcomes.

Improving access to cancer genetics services in primary care: socio-economic data from North Kirklees

A primary care cancer genetics project, funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and the Department of Health, has been running in North Kirklees since 2004. North Kirklees has a high ethnic minority population (mainly South Asian) and 50% of its wards lie in the most deprived quintiles in England. Previous audits in the department of genetics have shown lower than expected referral rates for patients from lower socio-economic classes and no referrals from ethnic minority patients. The aims of the project included improving access to cancer genetics services for disadvantaged patients from lower socio-economic groups and the ethnic minority population. A practice nurse and a General Practitioner with a Special Interest in genetics, both with appropriate language skills, and a 0.5 FTE genetic counsellor have set up local clinics in several primary care sites in North Kirklees where they provide full genetic counselling services in the community. Demographic details, ethnic origin and education information are collected from each patient seen. Comparing information prior to and during the project demonstrates an increase in numbers of referrals for patients from lower socio-economic classes, those with educational achievements at GCSE level or below, and those from South Asian backgrounds. Local clinics and increasing awareness of cancer genetics services for professionals and the public can improve access to such services.