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Identification of the Core Competencies Required in Endodontics for Undergraduate Students in Syrian Dental Schools
Muhammad Salameh1,2, Mayssoon Dashash1,3, Issam Jamous1,4
1Medical Education Program, Syrian Virtual University, Damascus, Dimashq, Syrian Arab Republic.
Background:
There is a worldwide movement toward competency-based medical education to equip dental students with essential competencies required to meet health care needs. In Syria, dental faculties currently lack a formal competency-based curriculum for endodontics at the undergraduate level. Moreover, the quality of root canal treatment performed by general dentists is frequently described as inadequate or substandard.
Objective:
This study aimed to develop a national consensus on the required competencies for undergraduate endodontics in Syria in order to establish a foundation for a standardized national curriculum, which can guide educators in adopting best practices in both dental education and clinical endodontics.
Methods:
This study was conducted at Syrian Virtual University between April and June 2025. A modified Delphi technique was used to determine endodontic competencies. Initially, a group of 5 Syrian endodontic consultants identified preliminary competencies. In the first round, 53 experts evaluated these competencies by using a 5-point Likert scale. Based on these results, a second round was conducted with 38 experts. Competencies with a weighted average above 4.20 were considered essential. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS package 27, and survey reliability was measured by Cronbach α.
Results:
Following the final Delphi round, a set of 31 competencies was established, comprising 9 knowledge, 13 skills, and 9 attitudes competencies. Cronbach α was more than 0.9 in the first and second round. The standard deviation across all questionnaires was low (≤0.85). The standard error was also minimal (≤0.12).
Conclusions:
This study identified a set of core endodontic competencies for the undergraduate level in Syria. These competencies are intended to support students in acquiring the required knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and assisting policymakers in implementing competency-based medical education within Syria and similar contexts.
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