gms | German Medical Science

5th International Conference for Research in Medical Education

15.03. - 17.03.2017, Düsseldorf

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Entrustable Professional Activities (EPA): an alternative to a logbook in the practical year?

Meeting Abstract

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  • corresponding author presenting/speaker Falk Ochsendorf - University-Hospital, Clinic for Dermatology, Frankfurt, Germany
  • Steffen Emmert - University Rostock, Klinik und Poliklinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Rostock, Germany
  • Nicola Hehl - Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Hauttumorzentrum, Ulm, Germany
  • Thorsten Hornung - Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Medizinische Fakultät, Bonn, Germany
  • Arne König - Philipps Universität Marburg, Klinik für Dermatologie und Allergologie, Marburg, Germany
  • Michael Jünger - Universitätsklinikum Greifswald, Klinik und Polikliniken für Hautkrankheiten, Greifswald, Germany
  • Thomas Kollewe - Goethe-Universität Frankfurt a. M., Medizindidaktik, Frankfurt a. M., Germany
  • Christoph Löser - Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Hautklinik, Ludwigshafen, Germany
  • Max Schlaak - Universitätsklinik Köln, Klinik für Dermatologie und Venerologie, Köln, Germany
  • Sonja Ständer - Universität Münster, Hautklinik, Münster, Germany
  • Michael Weichenthal - Universitätshautklinik Kiel, Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Kiel, Germany
  • Henning Hamm - Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Hautklinik, Würzburg, Germany
  • Forum akademische Lehre der DDG

5th International Conference for Research in Medical Education (RIME 2017). Düsseldorf, 15.-17.03.2017. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2017. DocO8

doi: 10.3205/17rime08, urn:nbn:de:0183-17rime086

Published: March 7, 2017

© 2017 Ochsendorf et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Outline

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Introduction: An evaluation of the logbooks of the practical year during the dermatology tertial showed that the potential of this instrument is not fully used: a detailed signing off is not practical and hindering in daily practice, a global signing off lacks feedback.

Objective: How could the development of dermatological competencies during the dermatology tertial be better supported and checked?

Material and Methods: In group works during two meetings of the “Forum akademische Lehre” of the German Dermatological Society (DDG) the concepct of “Entrustable Professional Acitivities (EPA)” was critcally discussed, especially in the light of the recommendations of the "National Competence based Learning catalogue". The proposals oft he "Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)" were considered as well. Typical properties of a dermatolgocial EPA were defined (description of skin changes, differential diagnoses, diagnostic measures). Possible methods for assessment (such as Mini-CEX, DOPS) were discussed as well.

Results: The following 4 EPA"s were defined for the practical year in dermatology: treatment of one patient each with an infectious skin disease, a classcial skin disease, a malignant skin disease and a chronic wound. For each of these encounters a Mini-Clinical-Examination (CEX) should be performed (n=4/tertial). To be able to compare the ratings the EPA-descriptions oft he AAMC could be used. The practical tasks should be assessed by "direct observation of practical skills" (DOPS). For the assessment of knowledge a formative test ("progress-test") was recommended.

Conclusion: The EPA-concept integrates detailed, fragmented elements of knowledge and procedures of a logbook into 4 clinically relevant scenarios. The analysis of these clinical situations allows both students and educators to decide whether students would be able to care for a respective patient by themselves. It also standardizes the education in the dermatology tertial.