Entrustable Professional Activity Assessments in Surgery: Competing Perspectives, Practices, Expectations, and Future Roles?

• In Event: Exploring Learning, Evaluation, and Assessment in Professions Education

Abstract

Implementation of entrustable professional activities(EPA) assessments in surgical training programs is a new transition. Hence, the purpose of this study is to explore current experiences with EPA assessments across 4 surgical specialties. This was a single centre, qualitative descriptive study grounded in a constructivist paradigm, whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted with surgical trainees and faculty. 9 interviews were conducted, including 5 faculty and 4 trainees in Otolaryngology, Urology, Cardiac surgery, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. The top 3 themes identified for both residents and faculty were (1) Difficulties encountered with EPA assessments, (2) Initiatives to improve EPA assessments, and (3) Resident/Faculty expectations. Results can be used to inform residency programs on the challenges faced by trainees/faculty and how to optimize them.

Authors

• Elif Bilgic, McMaster University
  Presenting Author

• Sena Turkdogan
  Non-Presenting Author

• Jason Matthew Harley, McGill University
  Non-Presenting Author