Abstract: Objective To explore the consistency of digital outcome assessment system and traditional evaluation method in the evaluation of posterior tooth classⅡ cavity preparation, and to evaluate its application value in preclinical skill training of medical students. Methods Thirty-eight medical students from 5+3 integrated program enrolled in 2017 at stomatological college of Nanjing Medical University were selected to participate in the examination of class II cavities preparation . The prepared teeth were evaluated by digital outcome assessment system and three examiners. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the differences of scores from the four groups, and the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) was used to evaluate consistencies between digital outcome assessment system and examiners. Results Scores from digital outcome assessment system were 80.05(76.33,80.90) , examiner 1 were 79.50(75.75,80.00) , examiner 2 were 82.00(78.00,83.00) ,and examiner 3 were 81.00(76.00, 83.00) .There were significant differences in the evaluation results of the four groups (H=12.90, P=0.005). Scores in examiner 1 were lower than that of examiner 2, the difference was statistically significant (P=0.011); there were no significant differences in evaluation results among the other groups (all P＞0.05). The ICC values of digital outcome assessment system and the results from three examiners were all greater than 0.90, which showing excellent agreement. Conclusions There were strong consistencies between digital outcome assessment system and examiners in evaluation results. The comprehensive application of the digital outcome assessment system can reduce the individual differences by traditional scoring methods, and help improve the accuracy of student evaluations.

Key words: Students, medical, Stomatology, Digital outcome assessment system, ClassⅡcavity preparation, Assessment, Evaluation, Consistency