Defining Core competencies of the European Society for Sports Traumatology, knee surgery and arthroscopy

PURPOSE: The European Society for Sports Traumatology, Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA) identified the need to develop a competency-based core curriculum for ESSKA specialists, against which all their educational activities, resources and priorities for development could be mapped. The aim of this study was to take a research-based approach to developing a competency-based core curriculum for ESSKA specialists. METHODS: A Core Curriculum Working Group, with experts representing the ESSKA Board, Sections and Committees, reviewed existing curricula and literature in their own specialist areas and developed a draft list of 285 core competencies for ESSKA specialists. All ESSKA members were asked to comment and rate the importance of these competencies, and the Working Group used these results to refine the curriculum. RESULTS: Four hundred-forty responses to the online survey contained meaningful data. Almost all were ESSKA members, with broad representation of the countries, ages and backgrounds of the membership. All 285 core competencies were considered at least ‘Important’ for ESSKA specialists so are retained in the final curriculum, and no new competencies were added. 82 (29%) were considered ‘Essential’, constituting between 19% and 37% of the competencies within each specialist area. 96 (33.5%) were considered ‘Very Important’, and 107 (37.5%) ‘Important’. CONCLUSIONS: A competency-based core curriculum for ESSKA specialists was achieved through a systematic and scholarly approach, involving both expert opinion and engagement of the wider ESSKA membership. The core curriculum addresses the identified need in terms of educational development for ESSKA and should also be of interest to the wider orthopaedic and sports medicine communities.