Awareness and Confidence in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Competencies: A Cross-Sectional...

Competency-based medical education, structured around the 6 core competencies of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), underpins postgraduate training in ACGME-International (ACGME-I)- accredited institutions. Despite its central role, limited evidence exists regarding trainees' awareness, confidence, and educational preferences related to these competencies, particularly in the Middle East. This study aimed to assess postgraduate trainees' awareness and confidence across the 6 ACGME competencies and to explore their orientation preferences at Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar's largest ACGME-I-accredited academic center.

A cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to all postgraduate trainees at Hamad Medical Corporation. The questionnaire assessed self-reported awareness and confidence across the 6 ACGME Core Competencies, perceived emphasis during training, and preferred formats and frequency of competency-based orientation.

A total of 255 trainees completed the survey. Overall confidence was high across most competency domains, particularly in medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, and professionalism. Systems-based practice and practice-based learning and improvement were the least familiar and least emphasized domains. Trainees who previously received structured competency orientation reported significantly higher confidence across all domains (P < .01). Patient care (66.7%) and medical knowledge (63.9%) were perceived as highly emphasized competencies, whereas systems-based practice was least emphasized (39.2%). Most trainees (76.5%) expressed interest in competency-focused orientation, favoring annual sessions delivered through online or blended learning formats.

Postgraduate trainees demonstrate strong overall awareness of ACGME-I competencies; however, notable gaps persist in systems-based practice and practice-based learning and improvement. Structured, recurring competency orientation is associated with higher trainee confidence.