Entrustable professional activity assessments in surgery: competing perspectives, practices, expectations, and future roles?

PurposeImplementation of entrustable professional activity (EPA) assessments in surgical training programs is a new transition. Hence, the purpose of this study is to explore current perspectives, practices, and expectations for EPA assessments across four surgical specialties.MethodsThis was a single center, qualitative descriptive study grounded in a constructivist paradigm, whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted with surgical trainees and faculty in four surgical specialties.ResultsNine interviews were conducted, including five faculty and four trainees in otolaryngology, urology, cardiac surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. The top three (of 11) themes identified for both residents and faculty were (1) difficulties encountered with EPA assessments, (2) initiatives to improve EPA assessments, and (3) resident/faculty expectations.ConclusionsResults of this study can be used to inform residency programs on the challenges faced by trainees/faculty and how to optimize the implementation of EPA assessments.