Minimum Supervision Levels Required by Program Directors for Pediatric Pulmonary Fellow Graduation

Abstract

Background: Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) define the essential tasks expected of subspecialists in unsupervised practice. Although EPAs have been piloted in some programs, their use for summative assessment of pediatric pulmonology fellows for graduation has not been studied. Objective: To determine the minimum level of supervision that pediatric pulmonary program directors (PDs) require of their fellows for graduation and compare it with the minimum level of supervision they expect for a practicing subspecialist for the five pediatric pulmonology EPAs. Methods: Using a modified Delphi approach, we developed supervision scales for the five pediatric pulmonology EPAs and conducted a national survey of pediatric pulmonary PDs in the United States through the Subspecialty Pediatric Investigators Network between April 2017 and August 2017. Results: Forty-six pediatric pulmonary PDs completed the survey, representing a response rate of 85%. The majority did not require fellows to be trusted to practice without supervision for graduation for any of the five EPAs (level 5); the median minimum level of supervision they required was 4, equating to indirect supervision for complex cases. The minimum level for graduation, defined by consensus as the level of supervision for which no more than 20% of PDs would want the level to be lower to allow a fellow to graduate, was 3, which corresponded to requiring supervision for both simple and complex cases. There was a statistically significant difference between the minimum level of supervision deemed necessary by PDs for graduation and for practice as a subspecialist for each of the EPAs. Conclusion: Most pediatric pulmonary PDs reported that they would graduate fellows who may still require indirect supervision for the five pediatric pulmonology EPAs. The findings suggest a need for stakeholders to reevaluate the structure and outcomes of training programs and ensure support for pediatric pulmonologists in their early practice period.