Exploring Core Anatomy Competency for Clinical Skill Development in Dental Undergraduate Curriculum: A Scoping Review Protocol
Main Article Content
Abstract
Competency refers to the combination of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and abilities that an individual must possess to perform tasks effectively and meet specific objectives or standards. Anatomy competency specifically refers to the ability to translate anatomical understanding into safe and accurate clinical practice. In dental education, anatomy is a cornerstone of this competency, supporting essential procedures such as local anaesthesia, surgical planning, and radiographic interpretation. However, inconsistencies in anatomy instruction and a lack of standardised competency frameworks have contributed to variability in students’ clinical readiness. This scoping review protocol outlines the methodology for systematically mapping the literature on anatomy related competencies that support clinical skill development in undergraduate dental education. This review systematically investigates the essential anatomy core competencies underpinning clinical skill development in dentistry and evaluates their contribution to clinical preparedness. The methodology adheres to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework and is reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. This review will examine the anatomy core competency required for the development of clinical skills in dentistry and their impact on clinical preparedness, guided by the JBI methodology and will be reported using the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Primary studies, reviews, and grey literature published between June 2020 and May 2025 will be retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, and Wiley Online Library databases and included. Only studies involving undergraduate dental students will be considered. Data extraction will capture study characteristics, anatomy content, competency elements, and clinical relevance. Results will be presented in tabular, narrative, and concept map formats to illustrate the relationships between anatomy education and clinical skill development. This will inform curriculum reform and strengthen competency-based anatomy instruction in dental programmes.
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