Let’s “PREPARE”: A Foundational Module to Guide Undergraduate Medical Students toward Their Future Practice of Entrustable Professional Activities

Surapaneni, Krishna Mohan

doi:10.22062/sdme.2026.200749.1499

Let’s “PREPARE”: A Foundational Module to Guide Undergraduate Medical Students toward Their Future Practice of Entrustable Professional Activities

Document Type : Brief report

Author

Krishna Mohan Surapaneni ¹^{, 2}

¹ Department of Biochemistry, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai – 600 123, Tamil Nadu, India

² Department of Medical Education, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai – 600 123, Tamil Nadu, India

10.22062/sdme.2026.200749.1499

Abstract

Background: Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) are core clinical tasks that medical graduates must perform independently to demonstrate competency. Introducing
EPA-based training in the early years of medical education provides a solid foundation for workplace-based assessment (WBA), and emphasizes essential skills such as history
taking, clinical reasoning, and decision making.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the "PREPARE" (PRomote Entrustable Professional Activities via Responsible Engagement) module, which was designed to integrate EPAs early in medical training using a self-directed learning approach.
Methods: The module was validated by experts for face and content validity using the Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) and Scale Content Validity Index for Universal Agreement (S-CVI/UA). Reliability was assessed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Following validation, the module was piloted among first-to-final-year medical students. Knowledge improvement was assessed using pretest and posttest, and the scores were analyzed for their statistical significance.
Results: The results showed adequate face and content validity (I-CVI, 0.978; S-CVI/UA, 0.96) and excellent reliability (ICC, 0.998). During the pilot testing phase, students demonstrated significant knowledge improvement, with posttest scores averaging
85% compared to pretest scores of 25% (p < 0.0001). Participants reported increased confidence and readiness to perform EPAs, highlighting the role of the module in fostering clinical preparedness.
Conclusion: “PREPARE" module introduces EPA-based training in the early stages of undergraduate medical education. With evidence of validity and reliability, and observed improvements in student knowledge and self-reported confidence, this module contributes to building clinical readiness. It offers a structured framework for developing core professional activities and supports students in preparing for future clinical responsibilities within the existing educational context.

Highlights

Krishna Mohan Surapaneni: (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Keywords

Entrustable Professional Activities

Medical Education

Clinical Competence

Undergraduate Medical Training

Workplace-Based Assessment

Self-Directed Learning

Obeso V, Grbic D, Emery M, Parekh K, Phillipi C, Swails J, et al. Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency Pilot (2021). Core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and the Transition from Medical School to Residency: the Postgraduate Year One Resident Perspective. Med Sci Educ. 2021; 31(6):1813-22. doi: 1007/s40670-021-01370-3. PMID: 34956699 PMCID: PMC8651854
O'Dowd E, Lydon S, O'Connor P, Boland J, Offiah G, Byrne D. The development of a framework of entrustable professional activities for the intern year in Ireland. BMC Med Educ. 2020; 20(1):273. doi: 1186/s12909-020-02156-8. PMID: 32811490 PMCID: PMC7433170
Eliasz KL, Nick MW, Zabar S, Buckvar-Keltz L, Ng GM, Riles TS, et al. Viewing Readiness-for-Residency through Binoculars: Mapping Competency-Based Assessments to the AAMC's 13 Core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs). Teach Learn Med. 2023;35(4):436-41. doi: 1080/10401334.2022.2082432. PMID: 35668557
Encandela JA, Shaull L, Jayas A, Amiel JM, Brown DR, Obeso VT, et al. Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency Pilot. Entrustable professional activities as a training and assessment framework in undergraduate medical education:
A case study of a multi-institutional pilot. Med Educ Online. 2023; 28(1):2175405. doi: 1080/10872981.2023.2175405. PMID: 36794397 PMCID: PMC9937016
Amiel JM, Andriole DA, Biskobing DM, Brown DR, Cutrer WB, Emery MT, et al. Revisiting the Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency. Acad Med. 2021; 96(7S): S14-S21. doi: 1097/ACM.0000000000004088. PMID: 34183597
Yan F, Yang X, Zhang L, Cheng H, Bai L, Yang F. Establishing entrustable professional activities for psychiatry residents in China. BMC Med Educ. 2023; 23(1):623. doi: 1186/s12909-023-04583-9. PMID: 37658351 PMCID: PMC10474625
Jenkins LS, Mash R, Motsohi T, Naidoo M, Ras T, Cooke R, et al. Developing entrustable professional activities for family medicine training in South Africa. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2023; 65(1):e1-e6. doi: 4102/safp.v65i1.5690. PMID: 36861915 PMCID: PMC998254
Surapaneni, Krishna Mohan (2026). PREPARE : PRomote Entrustable Professional Activities via Responsible Engagement. figshare. Online resource.
Watson A, Leroux T, Ogilvie-Harris D, Nousiainen M, Ferguson PC, Murnahan L, et al. Entrustable Professional Activities in Orthopaedics. JB JS Open Access. 2021;6(2):e20.00010. doi: 2106/JBJS.OA.20.00010. PMID: 34056510 PMCID: PMC8154482
Pittenger AL, Chapman SA, Frail CK, Moon JY, Undeberg MR, Orzoff JH. Entrustable Professional Activities for Pharmacy Practice. Am J Pharm Educ. 2016; 80(4): 57. doi: 5688/ajpe80457. PMID: 27293224 PMCID: PMC4891855
Pinilla S, Lenouvel E, Cantisani A, Klöppel S, Strik W, Huwendiek S, et al. Working with entrustable professional activities in clinical education in undergraduate medical education: a scoping review. BMC Med Educ. 2021; 21(1):172. doi: 1186/s12909-021-02608-9. PMID: 33740970 PMCID: PMC7980680
Arunachalam S, Pau A, Nadarajah VD, Babar MG, Samarasekera DD. Entrustable professional activities in undergraduate dental education: A practical model for development and validation. Eur J Dent Educ. 2023;27(2):332-342. doi: 1111/eje.12809. PMID: 35484781
Gummesson C, Alm S, Cederborg A, Ekstedt M, Hellman J, Hjelmqvist H, et al. Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) for undergraduate medical education - development and exploration of social validity. BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):635. doi: 1186/s12909-023-04621-6. PMID: 37667366 PMCID: PMC10478490