Competency-based training: who benefits?

Abstract

Competency based training describes progression through training referenced to the demonstrated ability to perform certain tasks. In recent years, this has become the dominant curriculum model. We seek to examine who benefits from a competency based approach to medical education. For the regulators and service, the apparent advantage is in terms of apparent measurable accountability and flexibility. For assessors, the promise of competence based assessments in the workplace to provide a reliable and objective measurement of a trainee's performance has not been demonstrated in practice. For the doctor in training, there is very little evidence to show benefit from competency based training. Competency based training places emphasis on individual skills rather than overall learning experience thus risks diminishing the role of the trainee in the workplace. Any form of medical education that devalues workplace based learning will ultimately harm the profession and, in turn, patient care.

Neurosurgical virtual reality simulation metrics to assess psychomotor skills during brain tumor resection

“…Proficiency-based training ensures that specific criteria have been met while chronological-based training does not guarantee that a resident has achieved a degree of skill commiserate with competency in the surgical care of patients. Surgical competence is the ability of performing specific surgical skills successfully [7] and encompasses knowledge, technical, and social skills to solve familiar and novel situations to provide adequate patient care [8]. Interestingly, this definition focuses on "adequate" rather than "excellent" or "expert" patient care and what constitutes an expert in the field of surgery has not been clearly defined [9].…”

Sociocultural Competence Training in Higher Engineering Education: The Role of Gaming Simulation

“…Grant (2013) note: "Competency based training describes progression through training referenced to the demonstrated ability to perform certain tasks. In recent years, this has become the dominant curriculum model" (Brightwell, 2013). Today, knowledge-based approach is giving place to the competency-based approach in higher education.…”

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“…4 Reducing surgical errors and improving the quality of surgical training relates directly to psychomotor skill competence, which is the ability of performing certain surgical skills successfully. 5 "Surgical competency" combines anatomical and procedural knowledge with technical and social skills to solve familiar and novel situations so as to provide adequate patient care. 6 This definition has as its focus "adequate" rather than "excellent" patient care.…”