Development and validation of core entrustable professional activities for abdominal radiology

Anita Paisant; Stephen Skehan; Mathilde Colombié; Arthur David; Christophe Aubé

doi:10.1186/s13244-023-01482-x

Development and validation of core entrustable professional activities for abdominal radiology

Insights Imaging. 2023 Aug 29;14(1):142. doi: 10.1186/s13244-023-01482-x.

Authors

Anita Paisant^{1

2}, Stephen Skehan³, Mathilde Colombié³, Arthur David⁴, Christophe Aubé^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, Abdominal Unit Radiologie A, Angers University Hospital, 4 Rue Larrey, 49933, Angers, France. anita.paisant@chu-angers.fr.
² Laboratoire HIFIH, EA 3859, Université d'Angers, 4 Rue Larrey, 49045, Angers, France. anita.paisant@chu-angers.fr.
³ Department of Radiology, Elm Park Dublin 4 and School of Medicine, St Vincent's University Hospital, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
⁴ Department of Radiology, Nantes University Hospital, Hôtel Dieu, 1 Pl. Alexis-Ricordeau, 44093, Nantes Cedex 1, France.
⁵ Department of Radiology, Abdominal Unit Radiologie A, Angers University Hospital, 4 Rue Larrey, 49933, Angers, France.
⁶ Laboratoire HIFIH, EA 3859, Université d'Angers, 4 Rue Larrey, 49045, Angers, France.

Abstract

Objectives: To develop and validate European entrustable professional activities (EPAs) for sub-specialised hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal (HB/GI) diagnostic imaging.

Materials and methods: Both European Society of Radiology and national curricula in HB/GI diagnostic radiology were thoroughly reviewed, resulting in preliminary EPAs drafted by a pilot group of expert radiologists in 2 different countries. Each EPA was fully described with 7 components (Specification/limitations; Potential risks of failing; Relevant domains of competence; Required experience, knowledge, skills, attitude and behaviour; Assessment information sources to assess progress and ground a summative entrustment decision; Entrustment for which level of supervision is to be reached; and Expiration date). The modified Delphi method with 3 Delphi rounds was chosen for validation. Content validity index (CVI) and median values were used for validation.

Results: There were 15 preliminary EPAs, some of them divided according to 2 levels: resident and fellow level. The 37 members of the Delphi group were based in 2 different European countries with a background experience of 10 represented countries. Subsequent to the first Delphi round, 6 EPAs were accepted (CVI ≥ 0.8, median ≥ 4), 6 needed major revisions (CVI 0.7-0.79, median ≥ 4), 3 were rejected (CVI < 0.7) and 1 was added. After the second Delphi round, both the 6 revised EPAs and the additional one met the validation criteria (CVI ≥ 0.8, median ≥ 4). Finally, 13 EPAs were validated during the 3^rd Delphi round with an agreement percentage of 95-100%.

Conclusion: This study creates and validates EPAs for sub-specialised HB/GI diagnostic imaging.

Critical relevance statement: Thirteen EPAs for sub-specialised hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal diagnostic imaging were created with a strong methodology, and as a first example set in sub-specialised diagnostic imaging, they provide a template for others to be created.

Key points: • The competence-based teaching in medical studies has recently been reintroduced through EPAs. • Thirteen EPAs have been developed for hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal sub-specialised diagnostic imaging. • These EPAs were validated using a Delphi modified method and provide a template for other to be created.

Keywords: Competency-based education; Curriculum; Diagnostic imaging; Digestive system disease; Education.