Moving toward a competency-based curriculum: Analyzing patients' information and students' evaluation in geriatric...

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Geriatric Dentistry
• Special Patient Care

Background:

• Thailand lacks a core competency framework for geriatric dentistry and special patient care (GSP).
• A knowledge-based GSP curriculum was initially developed.
• The need for a competency-based approach was identified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and architecture of the GSP curriculum.
• To analyze patient information and student evaluations.
• To transition from a knowledge-based to a competency-based GSP curriculum.

Main Methods:

• Described the development and architecture of the GSP curriculum.
• Analyzed data from 130 patients and their maintenance recalls.
• Utilized a 21-item AUN-QA checklist for student evaluations on a five-point scale.

Main Results:

• Only 50% of patients attended maintenance recalls, with 74.2% showing emerging problems.
• Student evaluations indicated strong agreement with program specifications, teaching methods, assessment, and support.
• A modified GSP curriculum was developed based on patient and student feedback.

Conclusions:

• Patient data and student feedback are vital for creating competency-based GSP curricula.
• The GSP curriculum was modified to better suit patient conditions and student needs.
• Oral healthcare for elderly and special needs patients requires a multidisciplinary approach addressing oral health, behavior, and social factors.