A trainee's guide to surviving ePortfolio
Editor – This is a follow up to Dr King's paper on the ePortfolio (Clin Med August 2013 pp 367–9). The Foundation Programme, workplace assessments and local faculty groups (foundation process) were implemented to accelerate foundation doctors' progression to expertise sufficient for full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) and then into higher training. Vance et al reported trainees' considerable dissatisfaction with the processes.1 In the August edition of Clinical Medicine, Dr King wrote ‘whether or not you like online portfolio systems, ePortfolio seems here to stay as a tool for assessment and advancement’. I believe the ePortfolio system may require swift changes to make it ‘fit for purpose’.
In July 2013 I ran an online survey promoted on Twitter, which attracted responses from 36 consultant supervisors and 88 current foundation year (FY) doctors (32 FY1, 56 FY2). 75% of supervisors and 58% of trainees were not confident that the foundation process was ‘fit for purpose’ in supporting and accelerating training. 75% of supervisors were not confident that the process provides valid information to recommend full GMC registration at the end of FY1 or progression into higher training from FY2, a view shared by 62% of trainees. Only 33% of supervisors and 36% of trainees found the ePortfolio easy to use. 67% of supervisors felt irritation or dread when asked to complete an online assessment. 31% of supervisors had not read any of the foundation curriculum, whereas 30% of trainees had read all and 65% some of the curriculum.
This was a small survey and participants were probably sceptical. However, the results mirror Vance et al's findings. Full registration with the GMC is a weighty matter, as is assessment of FY2 to progress into higher training. Supervisors, trainees and the public must have confidence the processes are ‘fit for purpose’. Swift changes are required to restore supervisors' and trainees' confidence in the foundation training process.
- © 2013 Royal College of Physicians
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