Surgical Trainees' Lived Experience of Entrustable Professional Activities: Assessment in the Australasian Context

Background

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' Board in General Surgery implemented Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) in its competency-based training programme in 2022. As this is a new method for surgical trainees, a qualitative study was performed to evaluate its implementation and use by exploring the pioneer trainees' perceptions and experiences of EPAs.

Methods

Seven first-year general surgery trainees were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. The interviews explored the trainees' experiences of EPAs, their perceptions of the effect on their independence with completing clinical activities and patient safety, and their suggestions for how to improve this form of assessment in the training program.

Results

The findings of the study suggest that EPAs can be a useful tool for assessing the competence of trainees. However, the study also found that EPAs can be challenging for trainees, particularly in terms of the level of self-regulation and independence required.

Conclusion

Although EPAs may positively contribute to a trainee's experience, considerations to support trainees and trainers in their practical implementation may increase the value of the learning encounter. Graded assessment of entrustment and explicit year-level milestone progress points could promote more effective learning and support developmental feedback by trainers.