The Feasibility and Utility of Vascular Surgery Entrustable Professional Activities: A Multi-InstitutionalPilot...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Competency-Based Education

Background:

• Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) are a framework for competency-based medical education.
• The Vascular Surgery Board and Association for Program Directors in Vascular Surgery developed 15 core EPAs for vascular surgeons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore engagement with and perceptions of feasibility and utility of EPA assessment implementation.
• To assess the integration of EPA assessments into clinical workflow in a national pilot.

Main Methods:

• A national, multi-institutional pilot involving 30 institutions and 89 participants (program directors, managers, trainees, faculty).
• Trainee and faculty assessments of 15 vascular surgery EPAs using a 4-point entrustment scale.
• Surveys evaluated perceived feasibility and utility, with descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of responses.

Main Results:

• 2746 EPA assessments were completed.
• 92% of trainees and 96% of faculty reported neutral or positive ease of integration into perioperative workflow.
• 77% of trainees found EPA data helpful for goal setting and identifying improvement areas; 74% of faculty found assessments helpful for providing feedback.

Conclusions:

• EPA workplace-based assessment implementation is feasible and useful in diverse vascular surgery training programs.
• Integration into clinical workflow was perceived as easy by faculty and trainees.
• Trainees found assessments beneficial for learning, and faculty found them helpful for feedback, indicating a positive reception.