Background: Evaluating science, technology, and innovation (STI) policies in specialized fields such as dentistry requires the use of accurate, specialized, and expert-based indicators. However, many of the common indicators are general and do not take into account the characteristics of the dentistry field. This study aimed to identify and validate key indicators for evaluating STI policies in the dentistry field.
Methods: This study was conducted with a mixed (qualitative-quantitative) approach and in a multi-stage manner. In the first stage, using the meta-combination method, 198 scientific studies related to STI evaluation indicators were extracted from reputable scientific databases and subjected to thematic analysis. In the second stage, the Delphi method was used to validate and prioritize the indicators with the participation of 52 experts specializing in the fields of science and technology policymaking, dental research management, and science assessment. Finally, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in AMOS software was used to confirm the factor structure of the final indicators.
Findings: The Delphi process led to the identification of 10 key indicators in four categories: scientific (dental h-index and g-index), technological (number of advanced devices, investment in research), innovative (number of knowledge-based enterprises, innovation efficiency index), and structural-evaluation (existence of an integrated database, National Dental Center). The Kendall coordination coefficient was 0.71 in the final round, indicating good agreement between experts. Confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed the appropriate fit of the proposed model.
Conclusion: This study provided an integrated, evidence-based framework and expert consensus for evaluating science, technology, and innovation policies in the field of dentistry. The use of these specialized indicators can help improve the transparency, accountability, and effectiveness of research and technological policies in this area.