A competency-based framework for training in advanced dental education: experience in a community-based dental...

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Competency-Based Assessment
• Healthcare Professional Training

Background:

• Traditional program outcome assessments lack individual performance evaluation capabilities.
• Competency-based evaluation is gaining traction for doctoral and postdoctoral trainees.
• Translating broad competencies into measurable actions, especially in non-technical areas like cultural integration in treatment planning, remains challenging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a process for developing a competency-based evaluation framework.
• To create specific, evaluable action statements for assessing dental residents.
• To focus on the integration of cultural and sociodemographic variables in treating medically compromised patients within a community-based program.

Main Methods:

• A systematic process was employed to develop a competency-based framework.
• The framework includes specific, evaluable action statements.
• The focus was on Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residents in a community-based partnership program.

Main Results:

• A competency-based framework with evaluable action statements was successfully developed.
• The framework is designed to assess AEGD residents' performance with medically compromised patients.
• The process emphasizes practical application in real-world clinical settings.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework provides a model for evaluating trainee performance in complex clinical scenarios.
• While the framework itself may not be universally generalizable, the described development process is adaptable.
• This approach can guide the creation of effective competency assessments in various training programs.