Evaluation of the Dunning-Kruger Effects among Dental Students at an Academic Training Institution in UAE

BACKGROUND: The Dunning-Kruger effect (cognitive bias) is a psychological phenomenon that implies that individuals with a lack of knowledge and skills have an unrealistically optimistic image of their abilities compared to others. PURPOSE: The study aimed to examine the presence of the Dunning-Kruger effect in fifth (final) year dental undergraduate students at Gulf Medical University, UAE, in clinical domains related to pediatric dentistry. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Gulf Medical University, College of Dentistry, to evaluate cognitive bias among 5th-year dental students at GMU in the competency domains of communication, diagnosis, and clinical skills in Pediatric dentistry. RESULTS: Overall, compared to the level of confidence of students in September, there was a decline in the level of confidence in January. With an increase in time, the percentage shifted to a higher level in May across all domains. CONCLUSION: Characteristic patterns of fluctuations in students' self-confidence during clinical exposure are observed. The research results prove that the Dunning-Kruger effect, the cognitive bias of the perception pattern, is present in the examined group of dental students.