Entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited General Medical Sonographers in Australia – Industry perceptions
Abstract Introduction Linking individual competencies to entrustable professional tasks provides a holistic view of Sonography graduate work readiness. The Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR) publishes a set of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) as part of its Standards for...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.676 |
| _version_ | 1797686848747732992 |
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| author | Christopher Edwards Rebecca Perry Deanne Chester Jessie Childs |
| author_facet | Christopher Edwards Rebecca Perry Deanne Chester Jessie Childs |
| author_sort | Christopher Edwards |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Linking individual competencies to entrustable professional tasks provides a holistic view of Sonography graduate work readiness. The Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR) publishes a set of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) as part of its Standards for Accreditation of Sonography Courses. EPAs are distinct ultrasound examinations grouped within six critical practice units. This study reports on industry perspectives of current EPAs and their classification for graduates completing general sonography courses in Australia. The article also examines the value of EPAs and links their function to the assessment of graduate competency. Methods An online survey tool elicited stakeholder feedback on graduate EPAs across six critical practice units and the potential for including a new Paediatric unit. From an original sample size of 655, 309 responded to questions about general sonography courses. Results A majority (55.3%) recommended no changes to the existing EPA list, and 44.7% recommended amending the list. From respondents that recommended changes (138/309), all current EPAs received >80% agreement to be retained; in addition, nine new examinations received >70% agreement for inclusion at the graduate level. Whilst 42.7% (132/309) supported the current ASAR model requiring competency in five out of six critical practice units, 45.6% (141/309) recommended increasing it to all six. There was limited support, 11.7% (36/309), to reduce this number. Responding to the potential to add a new Paediatric specific critical practice unit, 61.8% (181/293) recommended its inclusion. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that the current list of EPAs aligns with industry expectations. In contrast, there are divergent views on the modelling and grouping of critical practice units. The article's critical analysis of the results and implications provides stakeholders with a practical approach to clinical teaching and EPA assessment, and helps to inform any review of accreditation standards. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:11:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35f47720162d48f78514fc82c1bd2e44 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2051-3895 2051-3909 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T01:11:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-35f47720162d48f78514fc82c1bd2e442023-09-14T04:47:21ZengWileyJournal of Medical Radiation Sciences2051-38952051-39092023-09-0170322923810.1002/jmrs.676Entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited General Medical Sonographers in Australia – Industry perceptionsChristopher Edwards0Rebecca Perry1Deanne Chester2Jessie Childs3School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Queensland AustraliaAllied Health and Human Performance University of South Australia Adelaide South Australia AustraliaSchool of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences Central Queensland University Brisbane Queensland AustraliaAllied Health and Human Performance University of South Australia Adelaide South Australia AustraliaAbstract Introduction Linking individual competencies to entrustable professional tasks provides a holistic view of Sonography graduate work readiness. The Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry (ASAR) publishes a set of entrustable professional activities (EPAs) as part of its Standards for Accreditation of Sonography Courses. EPAs are distinct ultrasound examinations grouped within six critical practice units. This study reports on industry perspectives of current EPAs and their classification for graduates completing general sonography courses in Australia. The article also examines the value of EPAs and links their function to the assessment of graduate competency. Methods An online survey tool elicited stakeholder feedback on graduate EPAs across six critical practice units and the potential for including a new Paediatric unit. From an original sample size of 655, 309 responded to questions about general sonography courses. Results A majority (55.3%) recommended no changes to the existing EPA list, and 44.7% recommended amending the list. From respondents that recommended changes (138/309), all current EPAs received >80% agreement to be retained; in addition, nine new examinations received >70% agreement for inclusion at the graduate level. Whilst 42.7% (132/309) supported the current ASAR model requiring competency in five out of six critical practice units, 45.6% (141/309) recommended increasing it to all six. There was limited support, 11.7% (36/309), to reduce this number. Responding to the potential to add a new Paediatric specific critical practice unit, 61.8% (181/293) recommended its inclusion. Conclusions The findings demonstrate that the current list of EPAs aligns with industry expectations. In contrast, there are divergent views on the modelling and grouping of critical practice units. The article's critical analysis of the results and implications provides stakeholders with a practical approach to clinical teaching and EPA assessment, and helps to inform any review of accreditation standards.https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.676clinical competence/*standardseducationentrustable professional activitiessonographyultrasoundwork‐based assessment |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Edwards Rebecca Perry Deanne Chester Jessie Childs Entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited General Medical Sonographers in Australia – Industry perceptions Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences clinical competence/*standards education entrustable professional activities sonography ultrasound work‐based assessment |
| title | Entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited General Medical Sonographers in Australia – Industry perceptions |
| title_full | Entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited General Medical Sonographers in Australia – Industry perceptions |
| title_fullStr | Entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited General Medical Sonographers in Australia – Industry perceptions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited General Medical Sonographers in Australia – Industry perceptions |
| title_short | Entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited General Medical Sonographers in Australia – Industry perceptions |
| title_sort | entrustable professional activities of graduate accredited general medical sonographers in australia industry perceptions |
| topic | clinical competence/*standards education entrustable professional activities sonography ultrasound work‐based assessment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.676 |
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