Developing Entrustable Professional Activities for Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa

The College of Medicine South Africa (CMSA) has embarked on developing Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for workplace-based training. There is currently limited guidance for developing EPAs in Chemical Pathology. This report explores factors that impact EPA development in Chemical Patholog...

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Main Authors: Rivak Punchoo, Tahir S. Pillay
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa
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Online Access:https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/133
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author Rivak Punchoo
Tahir S. Pillay
author_facet Rivak Punchoo
Tahir S. Pillay
author_sort Rivak Punchoo
collection DOAJ
description The College of Medicine South Africa (CMSA) has embarked on developing Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for workplace-based training. There is currently limited guidance for developing EPAs in Chemical Pathology. This report explores factors that impact EPA development in Chemical Pathology, derived from health education theory and evidence, as well as relevant contextual variables impacting registrar training in South Africa. We discuss four factors to consider during the elaboration of EPAs for South African registrars in Chemical Pathology to enhance fitness for workplace-based assessment. Firstly, EPAs require the application of constructive alignment to link the national syllabus, core competencies and milestones, training methods, and formative assessment strategies during the trainee learning trajectory. Secondly, the elaboration of a complete EPA is assisted by utilising a standardised template with defined sectional headings and contents structured for laboratory medicine. Thirdly, quality assurance of draft EPAs requires validation to improve curriculum alignment, and facilitate EPA revision. Finally, a critical emergent issue for Chemical Pathology workplace-based training is the development of standardised learning opportunities for operationalising a national EPA programme. Contribution: Charting the early steps in developing EPAs for training Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa identifies the application of the educational tenet of constructive alignment, utilising a standardised template for EPA design, validating draft EPAs and creating equitable learning opportunities for all trainees.
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spelling doaj-art-8fd530b00ed1401facb6d8052a0be3bc2025-08-20T02:47:18ZengAOSISJournal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa2960-110X2025-02-0131e1e510.4102/jcmsa.v3i1.13350Developing Entrustable Professional Activities for Chemical Pathology registrars in South AfricaRivak Punchoo0Tahir S. Pillay1Division of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; and Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, Cape TownDivision of Chemical Pathology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Chemical Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and Department of Chemical Pathology, National Health Laboratory Service, PretoriaThe College of Medicine South Africa (CMSA) has embarked on developing Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for workplace-based training. There is currently limited guidance for developing EPAs in Chemical Pathology. This report explores factors that impact EPA development in Chemical Pathology, derived from health education theory and evidence, as well as relevant contextual variables impacting registrar training in South Africa. We discuss four factors to consider during the elaboration of EPAs for South African registrars in Chemical Pathology to enhance fitness for workplace-based assessment. Firstly, EPAs require the application of constructive alignment to link the national syllabus, core competencies and milestones, training methods, and formative assessment strategies during the trainee learning trajectory. Secondly, the elaboration of a complete EPA is assisted by utilising a standardised template with defined sectional headings and contents structured for laboratory medicine. Thirdly, quality assurance of draft EPAs requires validation to improve curriculum alignment, and facilitate EPA revision. Finally, a critical emergent issue for Chemical Pathology workplace-based training is the development of standardised learning opportunities for operationalising a national EPA programme. Contribution: Charting the early steps in developing EPAs for training Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa identifies the application of the educational tenet of constructive alignment, utilising a standardised template for EPA design, validating draft EPAs and creating equitable learning opportunities for all trainees.https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/133epaentrustable professional activitiesworkplace-based trainingchemical pathologylaboratory medicineconstructive alignmentvalidation of epasstandardisation of learning opportunities
spellingShingle Rivak Punchoo
Tahir S. Pillay
Developing Entrustable Professional Activities for Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa
Journal of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa
epa
entrustable professional activities
workplace-based training
chemical pathology
laboratory medicine
constructive alignment
validation of epas
standardisation of learning opportunities
title Developing Entrustable Professional Activities for Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa
title_full Developing Entrustable Professional Activities for Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa
title_fullStr Developing Entrustable Professional Activities for Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Developing Entrustable Professional Activities for Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa
title_short Developing Entrustable Professional Activities for Chemical Pathology registrars in South Africa
title_sort developing entrustable professional activities for chemical pathology registrars in south africa
topic epa
entrustable professional activities
workplace-based training
chemical pathology
laboratory medicine
constructive alignment
validation of epas
standardisation of learning opportunities
url https://jcmsa.org.za/index.php/jcmsa/article/view/133
work_keys_str_mv AT rivakpunchoo developingentrustableprofessionalactivitiesforchemicalpathologyregistrarsinsouthafrica
AT tahirspillay developingentrustableprofessionalactivitiesforchemicalpathologyregistrarsinsouthafrica