Development and validation of a checklist for evaluating root canal treatment performance in Taiwan

Over the past decade, numerous efforts have been made to develop guidelines for endodontic education; however, there has been no corresponding reform of the assessment scale. This study aimed to adopt an integrative approach to develop a checklist that summarizes the guidelines into key points for evaluating root canal treatment performance.

We followed the modified Delphi method and employed a five-step process to develop the checklist. Eight experts were recruited to develop the checklist, each with at least 7 years of clinical dentistry experiences, including a minimum 5 years in endodontics, as well as at least 3 years of teaching experience. Inter-rater reliability was assessed by three experts who applied the final item-weighted checklist to evaluate 66 extracted natural teeth operated by students who were about to enter pre-clinical training. Both experts and students were asked to provide feedback regarding the content validity of the checklist.

The careful development process with expert opinions supported the content validity. The final checklist includes 15 key items designed to measure comprehensive root canal treatment skills. The inter-rater reliability ranged from 0.437 to 0.865, indicating acceptable agreement among raters. Both teachers and students confirmed that the items were clear, comprehensible, and relevant, thereby supporting the face validity of the checklist.

This study developed the first qualitative checklist in Taiwan for assessing root canal treatment techniques using a structured approach and the modified Delphi method. The checklist offers teachers a standardized assessment tool and enhances learning efficiency for students.