Restructuring Saudi Board in Restorative Dentistry (SBRD) curriculum using CanMEDS competency

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe the process of adopting the Canadian Medical Education Directions for Specialists (CanMEDS) 2015 competency framework in a dental specialty program to reconstruct the Saudi Board in Restorative Dentistry (SBRD) curriculum and disseminate the lessons learned.

Method and development process: The process of curriculum development was started with the selection of SBRD curriculum committee and review of CanMEDS framework. The Committee conducted needs assessment among the stakeholders and adopted CanMEDS 2015 competencies through a careful process. A modeled curriculum was developed after taking feedback, review of existing literature, and unique context of dentistry.

Curriculum: Several unique features are incorporated. For example, milestones and continuum of learning are developed to enable residents develop competencies at different stages (transition to discipline, foundation of discipline, and core of discipline). Academic activities are restructured to encourage interactive, student-centered approaches, team work, intellectual curiosity, and scholarship. Learning outcomes are integrated throughout within several modules. Many formative assessment tools are adopted to promote learning and evaluate clinical skills.

Conclusions: This is the first published example of adopting CanMEDS competency framework in a dental specialty program. The success of developing SBRD curriculum has encouraged other dental specialties toward adopting CanMEDS 2015 frameworks for their own curricula.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express appreciation to Dr. Sami Alshammary and the SCFHS for helping and guiding them in this curriculum, and would like to acknowledge and extend their gratitude to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada for providing them the opportunity to get the benefit from their experience in designing a competency-based curriculum.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The Saudi Supplement on Medical Education is sponsored and supported by Al Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University.

Notes on contributors

Bahiah Abdulaziz Al Askar

Bahiah Abdulaziz Al Askar, SBARD, MME, is a consultant, SBRD program curriculum committee chairperson, and SBRD program director at the Dental clinics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Fahad Saleh Al Sweleh

Fahad Saleh Al Sweleh, SBARD, MME, is a consultant and a clinical assistance professor at the Dental clinics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Ebtesam Ibrahim Al Wasill

Ebtesam Ibrahim Al Wasill, SBARD, MME, is a consultant at the Dental clinics, Mohammed Bin Naif Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Zubair Amin

Zubair Amin, MHPE, FAAP, is an Associate Professor, Pediatrics at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.