Core Medical Trainees’ impression of the ePortfolio

Abstract

The NHS ePortfolio is a necessity for educational development and career progression of all postgraduate medical trainees in the UK. Education experts and the online tool developers have claimed that the ePortfolio has many advantages over its paper counterpart. They have argued that use of the ePortfolio enhances deep learning, encourages reflective practice and improves trainees learning. However anecdotal evidence suggests that both educational supervisors and trainees have expressed dissatisfaction with the use of the ePortfolio. The aim of this qualitative research was to investigate how the ePortfolio could be used more effectively for educational development of medical trainees. Semi-structured face to face interviews of a total of six core medical trainees (CMTs) was performed to discover their views on the usefulness of the ePortfolio.

Findings CMTs did not regard the ePortfolio as useful for their educational development. Issues such as poor understanding, lack of training, lack of time commitment, limited time availability of trainees and supervisors for the ePortfolio and supervisors’ poor quality feedback skills were highlighted as barriers to the trainees’ perception of usefulness of the ePortfolio. It was concluded that the full educational potential for the ePortfolio can only be achieved if the educational regulator, the professional establishments and the service provider (management) work collaboratively to come up with consensus policies in order to create an environment where service demand and the support for educational activities are well balanced.