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

Objective There is no core competency for geriatric dentistry and special patient care (GSP) in Thailand. Therefore, GSP program was developed as a knowledge-based curriculum. This study aimed to describe the development and architecture of the GSP curriculum by analyzing patients' information and students' evaluation to move toward a competency-based curriculum. Comparisons with the original GSP curriculum and future direction are discussed. Methods Development and architecture of the GSP curriculum were described. Information of 130 patients attending the GSP clinic, and those who participated in a maintenance recall was analyzed. Students' evaluation was performed using a 21-item questionnaire within seven domains based on the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) checklist. The responses were made using a five-point ordinal scale ranging from totally agree to totally disagree. Results Only 50% of the patients attended a maintenance recall. Among the recalled patients, 74.2% reported emerging problems. The AUN-QA questionnaire responses indicated that students mostly agreed with the program specification, teaching and learning approach, students' assessment methods, student quality, and support domains. The modified curriculum was developed based on the patients' information and students' evaluation. The original and modified GSP curricula were compared. Conclusions Information analysis of the patients and students' evaluation are essential to move a knowledge-based curriculum for geriatric and special patient care dentistry toward a competency-based curriculum that is appropriate for patients' condition and serves students' requirements. Oral health care in elderly and special care patients requires a multidisciplinary approach, and should encompass oral disease problems, behavior, and social context.