Entrustable professional activities and facets of competence in a simulated workplace-based assessment for advanced medical students. (1st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fincke, Fabian; Prediger, Sarah; Schick, Kristina; Fürstenberg, Sophie; Spychala, Nadine; Berberat, Pascal O.; Harendza, Sigrid; Kadmon, Martina
• Is Part Of: Medical teacher. Volume 42:Number 9(2020)
• Page Start: 1019
• Page End: 1026
• Publication Date: 2020-09-01
• Subjects: Undergraduate medical education -- facets of competence -- entrustable professional activities -- assessment of competence; Medical education -- Periodicals; 610.711
• DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2020.1779204
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-159X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Competence-based assessment formats in medical education usually focus on individual facets of competence (FOCs). The concept of 'Entrustable Professional Activities' (EPAs) encompasses supervisors' decisions on which level of supervision a trainee requires to perform a professional activity including several FOCs. How the different FOCs as perceived by clinician raters contribute to entrustment decisions is yet unclear. Objective: How do FOC perceptions relate to entrustment-decisions? Methods: Sixty-seven advanced medical students participated in an assessment simulating the first day of a resident physician. Participants were rated by supervisors for seven FOCs and twelve EPAs. Results: There was a positive correlation between FOC and EPA scores. Each EPA displayed a different correlation pattern with FOC ratings. Discussion: For most EPAs high levels of entrustment were associated with high ratings for selected FOCs. The results are in alignment with the assumption that each EPA encompasses a different set of FOCs. Conclusions: In our simulated workplace-based assessment, entrustment decisions for EPAs reflect the FOCs observed in a trainee. Thus, assessment of FOCs alongside with EPA ratings could add to the understanding of factors contributing to entrustment decisions.