Scope of portfolio in medical training

Abstract

The introduction of competency-based medical education has brought about a paradigm shift in the delivery of medical education in both undergraduate and postgraduate courses. A portfolio can be regarded as an instrument that can be employed for the storage of learning on a day-to-day basis and for recording the self-reflection by the students. As a matter of fact, the compilation of learning from different sessions gives an opportunity for the students to look back, analyze the overall process and thus reflect on the same, and this process plays a crucial role in ensuring deep learning. At the same time, the compiled information is being used for making evidence-based and well-informed decisions about the overall progress of the student. Further, we also cannot ignore the fact that a well-maintained portfolio can be looked on as one of the indicators of the quality assurance processes employed in an institution. To conclude, portfolios in the field of medical education are an important option to ensure learning and even promote the assessment of medical students. The need of the hour is that every medical institution should look to implement the same in their own settings and help the students in their journey to become competent.