The potential for using entrustable professional activities in assessing optometric clinical competence.

Area of Science:

• Optometry
• Medical Education
• Clinical Competency Assessment

Background:

• Optometric qualifications aim to ensure safe and effective clinical practice.
• High-stakes assessments like objective structured clinical examinations are commonly used.
• There is a need for alternative assessment methods in optometry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce entrustable professional activities (EPAs) as a novel approach for evaluating optometric clinical competence.
• To define EPAs within the specific context of optometric practice.
• To outline the potential benefits and challenges associated with implementing EPAs in optometry.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual framework development.
• Definition of EPAs tailored to optometric professional activities.
• Analysis of potential advantages and challenges of EPA implementation.

Main Results:

• EPAs offer a competency-based assessment framework.
• EPAs can provide a more integrated view of clinical readiness.
• Potential challenges include defining EPAs and ensuring consistent application.

Conclusions:

• Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) present a promising alternative for assessing optometric clinical competence.
• Further research and validation are needed to explore the practical application and effectiveness of EPAs in optometry.
• Adoption of EPAs could enhance the assurance of safe and effective optometric practice.