Portfolio of learning in clinical training

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Digital Health
• Workplace-Based Assessment

Background:

• Workplace-based assessment is vital for specialist training in South Africa.
• Portfolios of learning, now often digital (e-portfolios), offer a structured method for documenting learning evidence.
• E-portfolios support reflective practice and skill acquisition for future employment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the evolution and implementation of a national e-portfolio system for family medicine registrars in South Africa.
• To highlight the role of e-portfolios in assessment for and of learning.
• To examine the integration of e-portfolios with entrustable professional activities (EPAs) for high-stakes evaluations.

Main Methods:

• The study outlines the transition from paper-based portfolios to a national e-portfolio system.
• The e-portfolio was designed to collect evidence linked to national exit-level outcomes and later to 22 EPAs.
• It incorporates registrar reflections, supervisor feedback, and data aggregation for competency committees.

Main Results:

• The e-portfolio system has been a priority in South African family medicine for approximately 15 years.
• The system has undergone revisions, notably in 2023 and 2024, to align with EPA requirements.
• E-portfolios facilitate comprehensive data analysis for evaluating registrar competency.

Conclusions:

• E-portfolios offer a valuable, flexible alternative to traditional assessment methods in postgraduate medical education.
• The system supports a thorough understanding of registrar development over time.
• Shared operational costs make e-portfolios a feasible and effective tool for specialist training programs.