From competency mapping to curriculum development: Identifying gaps in an undergraduate general practice clerkship -...

This study aims to show the process of developing a competency-based medical education (CBME) General Practice (GP) block clerkship at the University of Heidelberg, aligned with frameworks such as CanMEDS, Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs), and the National Competency-based Learning Objectives Catalogue (NKLM 2.0). Objectives are to identify competencies addressed in the current two-week clerkship, determine additional content needed to cover all required competencies, and assess student perspectives.

A questionnaire completed by 165 students in 2023 evaluated perceived competence in various areas and their interest in GP before and after the clerkship. Data were analysed using a 5-point Likert scale ((1=fully agree to 5=completely disagree), and the curriculum was mapped to NKLM 2.0, CanMEDS, and EPAs to identify represented and missing competencies. Focus group meetings with lecturers and students were held to develop a new concept.

The current clerkship received an overall rating of 1.8 (SD: 1.06) but did not significantly increase interest in GP careers. Some competencies were well-covered, but areas like interprofessional skills or leadership and management were lacking. A six-week longitudinal clerkship was proposed to address these gaps, focusing on interprofessional collaboration, leadership, and patient-centred care, and including digital teaching, reflection and simulation training, and shadowing experiences.

The proposed CBME curriculum addresses evolving needs in medical education. Successful implementation will require longitudinal integration, interdisciplinary cooperation, trained preceptors, and centralised coordination. This study provides a roadmap for emphasising key competencies, promoting GP career choice, and contributing to high-quality patient care.