Next steps for workplace-based assessments of entrustable professional activities.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (FIU-HWCOM) piloted the AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and workplace-based assessments (WBAs).
• Challenges identified included variability in learner level alignment and feasibility of WBA data collection.
• Students reported discomfort with requesting WBAs and dissatisfaction with feedback.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey third-year medical students regarding their experiences and perceptions of WBAs used for EPA evaluation at FIU-HWCOM.
• To identify areas for improvement in the assessment process.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to third-year medical students at FIU-HWCOM.
• Survey response rate was 96% (n=107/112).

Main Results:

• 84% of students found WBAs not valuable for development.
• Preceptors often failed to complete WBAs promptly; 47% of students received no verbal feedback.
• 78% of students demonstrated confusion between EPAs and WBAs in their responses.

Conclusions:

• The implementation of WBAs for EPA assessment at FIU-HWCOM did not achieve its intended outcomes.
• Future iterations will use simplified paper WBA forms focusing on specific EPAs (1, 5, 6).
• WBAs will be required across clerkships with reduced numbers and no entrustment decisions.