Identifying relevant topics and their competency levels for dental materials science: a fuzzy Delphi study

Lin, Galvin Sim Siang and Pow, Kah Jun and Yahya, Noor Azlin and Foong, Chan Choong and Noorani, Tahir Yusuf (2023) Identifying relevant topics and their competency levels for dental materials science: a fuzzy Delphi study. BMC Oral Health, 23 (1). ISSN 1472-6831, DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-023-02946-8.

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Abstract

BackgroundDental materials science is an important core course in undergraduate dental programs which integrates foundational concepts of chemical engineering and materials science into clinical dentistry. The present study aimed to identify relevant dental materials science topics for Malaysian undergraduate dental curricula and to determine their appropriate competency levels in terms of cognitive and psychomotor taxonomies.MethodsPotential dental materials science topics were drafted in alignment with the revised national competency statement. The list of topics was further amended after comparing it with those recommended topics in the literature. Fuzzy Delphi method was applied. Experts were selected based on the different inclusion criteria. They ranked the topics using a five-point Likert scale and recommended the appropriate cognitive and psychomotor levels. Next, fuzzy evaluation was performed. Consensus was deemed for a topic to be included if (a) the average expert agreement was >= 75%, (b) the d-construct threshold value for each topic was <= 0.2 and (c) the average fuzzy number was >= 0.5.ResultsSixty-two experts participated in the study. They accepted 33 out of 36 potential dental materials science topics. The average Likert score and fuzzy number ranged from 3.63 to 4.92 and 0.526 to 0.784, respectively. Furthermore, ``Endodontic materials'' was ranked as the most significant topic. Meanwhile, many topics required dental students to demonstrate a cognitive level of ``Apply'' and a psychomotor level of ``Guided response''. Based on mean scores, ``Impression materials'' was rated as the most cognitively demanding topic, whilst ``Temporary restorative materials'' was the most demanding topic for psychomotor taxonomy.ConclusionThe present study has identified relevant dental materials science topics and their appropriate cognitive and psychomotor levels using the Fuzzy Delphi approach. The findings of the present study form the basis for future studies to develop measurable learning outcomes, design corresponding innovative pedagogy and propose assessment criteria for each topic.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Curriculum development; Delphi technique; Dental education; Dental materials; Undergraduate
Subjects: R Medicine
R Medicine > RK Dentistry
Divisions: Faculty of Dentistry
Depositing User: Ms Zaharah Ramly
Date Deposited: 20 Feb 2024 02:00
Last Modified: 20 Feb 2024 02:00
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/38265

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