identification of essential competencies for the pediatric dentistry curriculum at damascus university: a delphi study

Background & objective: global education is focusing on the significance of developing competency-based curricula nowadays. this study aims to establish a comprehensive set of essential competencies in pediatric dentistry designated for the curriculum at damascus university to ensure that the graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and professional attitudes to deliver effective pediatric dental care.       materials & methods: this qualitative exploratory study used delphi techniques to build a consensus among experts on the core competencies of the pediatric dentistry curriculum at damascus university in 2024. this study used two sequential qualitative methods: a focus group and the delphi technique. a focus group was conducted with one medical education expert and three specialists in pediatric dentistry to develop an initial list of competencies. this list was assessed using a two-round delphi technique utilized for this purpose. 25 participated in the process, and out of the 34 experts invited, competencies that garnered at least 80% agreement among the experts were included in the final list. the analysis included descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation.results: the study identified 47 core competencies, of which 15 were related to knowledge: facts and concepts in pediatric dentistry; 21 were related to skills: abilities to perform an activity or a task; and 11 were related to attitudes: feelings or opinions that guide behavior.conclusion: identifying a comprehensive framework of essential competencies for the pediatric dentistry curriculum at damascus university has been successfully established. this framework is good because it aligns differently with global education trends. still, it aims to improve the dental care provided by future practitioners. the results will be an asset to the curriculum developers and educators in pediatric dentistry to ensure that graduates are better equipped to provide quality care to their young patients.