Entrustable Professional Activites for Clinical Competence

Abstract

Aim: In recent years Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) have developed as an essential framework for competency-based medical education (CBME) implementation, which has become an important component of contemporary medical education. The need to close the gap between healthcare professional education, healthcare delivery, and societal demands motivates the transition to CBME. While the competencies describe the attributes that medical professionals should possess, the EPAs describe the practical activities that learners are expected to perform in their medical education and future careers. The difficulty of translating abstract abilities into clinical practice in the real world encouraged the development of EPAs, which are specific activities or responsibilities that may be delegated to learners upon demonstrating competency. With the introduction of EPAs, medical education programs have discovered a more effective means of assessing competencies that aligns them with the professional tasks that students are expected to perform. This alignment promotes a meaningful connection between intended competencies and real-world practice, which ultimately improves the readiness of future medical professionals. Methods: The article was prepared by the traditional review method. Results: This article highlights the particular features of EPAs and the significance of competency-based assessments being grounded in actual clinical situations. EPAs enable learners to advance progressively, fostering preparedness as well as responsibility over time. It is discussed how the incorporation of technology into EPAs has the potential to improve both teaching and learning. The use of technological support and mobile applications can make EPAs more applicable and comprehensible to both faculty and students. Conclusions: The integration of CBME and EPAs is a promising strategy for addressing concerns about medical education’s effectiveness. By actively engaging in real-world tasks, EPAs facilitate the internalization of competencies by learners. By providing a structured, adaptable, and context-specific approach to competency assessment, EPAs enable learners to assume responsibilities progressively, thereby facilitating their path to becoming competent and confident healthcare professionals. By recognizing the complementary nature of EPAs and competences, medical education programs can develop thorough and efficient training techniques that bridge the gaps between theoretical knowledge and practical clinical abilities.