Establishing an Entrustable Professional Activity-Based Curriculum for Postgraduate Respiratory Medicine Training: A...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pulmonology Training

Background:

• Traditional adult respiratory medicine training in Switzerland used fixed durations and procedure counts.
• Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) principles prompted a shift towards outcome-oriented training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a national curriculum for adult respiratory medicine postgraduate training in Switzerland based on Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs).
• To transition from time-based metrics to competency-focused education aligned with clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary working group was formed in 2023, involving all Swiss regions and training center types.
• A structured consensus process, including literature review, modified Delphi, and expert coaching, was employed.
• The EQual rubric was used for quality assurance, with final approval in 2025.

Main Results:

• A national list of EPAs for adult respiratory medicine was created.
• The new curriculum shifts focus from time/numbers to competency-based assessment.
• Integration of programmatic assessment and workplace-based assessments is central.

Conclusions:

• The novel EPA-based curriculum enhances feedback, entrustment decisions, and individualized learning in respiratory medicine.
• This model offers a framework for other national specialties adopting CBME.
• The curriculum better aligns training with clinical practice and patient outcomes.