Towards a generic competency framework for all primary care professionals: a qualitative research protocol.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Systems Research
• Professional Competency Development
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• A robust primary care system is essential for high-quality healthcare delivery.
• Current primary care faces challenges, necessitating professionals with practice-aligned competencies.
• A unified, transdisciplinary competency framework for all primary care professionals is currently unavailable.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a generic transdisciplinary competency framework for all primary care professionals.
• To identify professional activities that form the basis of the competency framework.
• To bridge the gap between competency frameworks and clinical practice using Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs).

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research design encompassing three phases: scoping review, ethnographic study, and validation study.
• Data triangulation through literature review, interviews, focus groups, observations, and expert consultations.
• Data collection from primary care professionals, experts, patients, and informal caregivers in Flanders, Belgium.

Main Results:

• Development of a transdisciplinary competency framework is underway.
• Identification of key professional activities for primary care practitioners.
• Validation of the framework in real-world primary care settings.

Conclusions:

• The competency framework can foster a stronger professional identity among primary care providers.
• It defines clear roles and responsibilities, enhancing professional cohesion.
• Findings will inform continuous professional development and undergraduate health education for improved primary care readiness.