Implementation of a Novel Group-Based Entrustable Professional Activity Model During Early Experiential Placements

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Pharmacy Education
• Clinical Pharmacy Practice

Background:

• Work-integrated learning (WIL) is crucial for developing practical skills in pharmacy students.
• Traditional clinical placements may lack structured feedback mechanisms for early learners.
• Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) offer a framework for competency-based assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a group-based EPA model for early WIL placements in pharmacy.
• To assess the impact of the EPA model on student confidence and competence in obtaining Best Possible Medication Histories (BPMH).

Main Methods:

• Pharmacy students participated in structured hospital placements focusing on BPMH.
• A group learning approach involved rotating between performing and observing the BPMH activity.
• An EPA tool guided observation, self-reflection, and supervisor feedback.
• Student confidence and supervisor entrustment ratings were collected across five visits.
• Performance was assessed via Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) and compared to a pre-EPA cohort.

Main Results:

• Supervisor entrustment ratings and student self-reported confidence significantly increased over the placement visits.
• Students performing BPMH later in the program showed higher initial confidence and received better entrustment ratings.
• OSCE performance demonstrated statistically significant improvements in BPMH documentation and total scores compared to the previous year.
• Students perceived the EPA framework as valuable for structure, expectation clarity, feedback, and peer learning.

Conclusions:

• A group-based EPA model is effective and resource-efficient for enhancing early pharmacy WIL placements.
• The model successfully improved student confidence and competence through structured reflection, feedback, and observational learning.
• This approach is scalable for undergraduate pharmacy programs seeking to improve clinical skill development.