ECE improves theoretical knowledge, clinical practice performance and self-efficacy, with the largest effect on self-efficacy¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesisr3·q4·i3large
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q4 i3 ECE showed significant positive effects on theoretical knowledge (SMD = 1.02), clinical practice performance (SMD = 1.47) and self-efficacy (SMD = 1.62). → Pang Xuefei 2026
Evidence¶
Pang Xuefei 2026¶
Pang Xuefei, Wang Huilin, Li Jinggui, Gui Haijun, Cao Xia, Cai Ming. (2026). The Impact of Early Clinical Exposure on Competency Development in Dental Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Dental Journal. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.identj.2026.109483
q4 · i3 · quant-synthesis · r3
Competency-domain subgroup analysis of the 27 included studies, assessed via examinations and questionnaires. All three domains were significant, with self-efficacy showing the largest pooled SMD and very high heterogeneity.
"ECE had significant positive effects on theoretical knowledge acquisition (SMD = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.58-1.46, I² = 93.9%, P < .001), clinical practice performance (SMD = 1.47, 95% CI = 0.98-1.96, I² = 96.7%, P < .001), and self-efficacy (SMD = 1.62, 95% CI = 0.92-2.32, I² = 96.1%, P < .001)"
Discussion¶
Learner Variables¶
- Self-Efficacy — outcome: instruction changes it
Related Claims¶
- ECE benefits both junior and senior preclinical dental students, with a larger pooled effect in junior students — related
- All three ECE modalities show significant positive effects, with real clinical interactions showing the largest pooled effect — related
- Early clinical exposure significantly improves dental students' overall competency compared with traditional teaching (SMD = 1.25), though evidence certainty is low — related
- The positive effect of ECE holds in both randomised and nonrandomised study designs — related
- Early clinical exposure improves the clinical skills of medical students compared with traditional teaching — related
- Early clinical exposure increases medical knowledge test scores and motivates learning — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
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by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-31 |
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