Development of entrustable professional activities for post-doctorate pediatric dentistry education

Purpose To identify the core components of pediatric dentistry defining entrustable professional activities (EPAs) representing the profession. Methods Potential core components of pediatric dentistry and corresponding domains were identified through review of literature and existing pediatric dentistry standards. A modified Delphi technique was utilized to rate these candidate EPAs to achieve consensus around prioritized EPAs. Results Eleven participants participated in all three rounds of the Delphi. After three rounds, 16 candidate EPAs reached consensus for pediatric dentistry. Each EPA fell into one of four domains: "assessment and planning," "provision of care," "behavior guidance," and "professional development." An original candidate EPA focused on non-pharmacological behavior guidance was deemed too broad by the Delphi. This EPA was subsequently developed into three separate components on nitrous oxide analgesia, moderate sedation, and general anesthesia. Conclusions Prioritized EPAs will help define the essential activities of the profession and provide a framework for creating assessments to ensure that graduating pediatric residents are ready for unsupervised practice.