Unlocking Findings of Entrustable Professional Activities for Trainee Development, Entrustment, and Practice...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Professional Development
• Healthcare Training

Background:

• Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) are increasingly utilized in health professions education.
• Their application in preregistration pharmacy training is a key area of focus for enhancing practical skills and readiness.
• Understanding the impact of EPAs on trainee development and supervisor decision-making is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore key findings on the use of EPAs in preregistration pharmacy training.
• To analyze the role of EPAs in trainee development, entrustment decision-making, and practice readiness.
• To synthesize evidence on the effectiveness and implementation of EPAs in this context.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of 5 electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Emcare, CINAHL).
• Inclusion of studies reporting on EPAs in preregistration pharmacy training, focusing on trainee development, entrustment, and readiness.
• Narrative synthesis of findings from 27 included studies, with quality appraisal using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool 2018.

Main Results:

• EPAs facilitate progressive trainee entrustment and enhance self-directed learning and self-awareness.
• Supervisor entrustment decisions are influenced by contextual, personal, and trainee-specific factors.
• While EPAs increase trainee autonomy, supervisor entrustment practices show variability.

Conclusions:

• EPAs in pharmacy education foster trainee autonomy, self-assessment, and professional growth.
• Variability in supervisor decision-making indicates a need for standardized training and implementation strategies.
• Further research is required to optimize EPA use in authentic practice settings.