TR
EN
Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study examined the content characteristics and cognitive-level demands of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) questions in the Turkish Dental Specialty Examination (DUS; Diş Hekimliğinde Uzmanlık Sınavı), with the goal of informing candidate preparation and curriculum–assessment alignment in dental education.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive item analysis was conducted using publicly available DUS question booklets from Spring 2012 to Spring 2025. After excluding officially annulled questions (n=2), 188 OMFS items were analyzed. Items were coded by topic, item format (knowledge-based vs case-based), presence of visual material, and Bloom-based cognitive level (Level 1–3, based on the highest cognitive process required). Inter-rater reliability was assessed on a random subset of 50 questions (Cohen’s κ=0.8677).
Results: Lower-order cognitive demand predominated across periods. Level 2 (Apply/Analyze) questions increased from 9.4% (2012–2022) to 20.0% (2023–2025) and were consistently case-based; however, this shift did not reach statistical significance (OR=2.40, p=0.075, 95% CI: 0.98–5.90). Visual items were rare in 2012–2022 (5/138; 3.62%) and absent in 2023–2025 (0/50). Topic coverage showed redistribution over time, indicating changing examination emphasis.
Conclusion: DUS–OMFS assessment remains heavily weighted toward remembering/understanding, with limited representation of higher-order clinical reasoning and minimal use of clinically relevant visuals. These findings suggest opportunities to strengthen assessment validity by expanding well-designed case-based and visual-supported items, which may better promote clinical reasoning and visual literacy within dental education.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Ethical Statement
This study is a document-based item/content analysis using publicly available Turkish Dental Specialty Examination (DUS) question booklets. No human participants were involved, no interventions were performed, and no identifiable personal data were collected or used. Therefore, ethics committee/IRB approval was not required.
Thanks
None.
References
- Rovin S. The future of dental specialization: policy issues. J Dent Educ 1979;43(10 Pt 1):537- 43.
- Whitehouse NH. Establishing a standard training pathway for the dental specialties in the European Community--is there a simple way forward? Int Dent J 1996;46(2):113-6.
- Owall B, Welfare R, Garefis P, et al. Specialisation and specialist education in prosthetic dentistry in Europe. Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent 2006;14(3):105-10.
- Günay O. Erciyes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi son sınıf öğrencilerinin tıp eğitimi hakkındaki düşünceleri. Tıp Eğitimi Dünya 2002;7(7).
- Tababet ve Şuabatı Sanatlarının Tarzı İcrasına Dair Kanun (1219 sayılı) [Homepage on the Internet]. T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı, 1928 [cited 2026 Jan 16]; Available from: https://www.saglik.gov. tr/TR-10385/sayisi1219--rg-tarihi04041928--rgsayisi863- tababet-ve-suabati-sanatlarinin-tarziicrasina- dair-kanun.html
- Ölçme, Seçme ve Yerleştirme Merkezi Başkanlığı. 2023-DUS 2. Dönem Sınavı ile 2023-STS Diş Hekimliği 2. Dönem Sınavı Başvurularının Alınması [Homepage on the Internet]. (ÖSYM). 2023 [cited 2026 Jan 16];Available from: https://www.osym.gov. tr/TR%2C25761/2023-dus-2-donem-sinaviile- 2023-sts-dis-hekimligi-2-donem-sinavibasvurularin- alinmasi-29082023.html
- Ölçme, Seçme ve Yerleştirme Merkezi Başkanlığı. Tıpta ve Diş Hekimliğinde Uzmanlık Eğitimi Yönetmeliği [Homepage on the Internet]. Mevzuat Bilgi Sist. 2022 [cited 2026 Jan 16];Available from: https://www.mevzuat.gov. tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=39700&MevzuatTur- =7&MevzuatTertip=5
- Çulhaoğlu AK, Kılıçarslan MA, Deniz KZ. Diş hekimliğinde uzmanlık sınavının farklı eğitim seviyelerdeki algı ve tercih durumlarının değerlendirilmesi. Atatürk Üniversitesi Diş Hekim Fakültesi Derg 2021;31(3):420-6.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
April 30, 2026
Submission Date
February 3, 2026
Acceptance Date
March 26, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 12 Number: 1
APA
Ünlü Kuzu, N., & Şen, E. (2026). Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025). Aydın Dental Journal, 12(1), 13-24. https://izlik.org/JA54JS83AW
AMA
1.Ünlü Kuzu N, Şen E. Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025). Aydin Dental Journal. 2026;12(1):13-24. https://izlik.org/JA54JS83AW
Chicago
Ünlü Kuzu, Nursena, and Esengül Şen. 2026. “Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025)”. Aydın Dental Journal 12 (1): 13-24. https://izlik.org/JA54JS83AW.
EndNote
Ünlü Kuzu N, Şen E (April 1, 2026) Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025). Aydın Dental Journal 12 1 13–24.
IEEE
[1]N. Ünlü Kuzu and E. Şen, “Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025)”, Aydin Dental Journal, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 13–24, Apr. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA54JS83AW
ISNAD
Ünlü Kuzu, Nursena - Şen, Esengül. “Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025)”. Aydın Dental Journal 12/1 (April 1, 2026): 13-24. https://izlik.org/JA54JS83AW.
JAMA
1.Ünlü Kuzu N, Şen E. Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025). Aydin Dental Journal. 2026;12:13–24.
MLA
Ünlü Kuzu, Nursena, and Esengül Şen. “Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025)”. Aydın Dental Journal, vol. 12, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 13-24, https://izlik.org/JA54JS83AW.
Vancouver
1.Nursena Ünlü Kuzu, Esengül Şen. Content And Cognitive-Level Analysis Of Surgery Questions In The Dental Specialty Examination (2012–2025). Aydin Dental Journal [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 1;12(1):13-24. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA54JS83AW