Comparing Entrustment and Competence: An Exploratory Look at Performance-Relevant Information in the Final Year of a Veterinary Program

Abstract

Workplace-based assessments and entrustment scales have two primary goals: providing formative information to assist students with future learning; and, determining if and when learners are ready for safe, independent practice. To date, there has not been an evaluation of the relationship between these performance-relevant information pieces in veterinary medicine. This study collected quantitative and qualitative data from a single cohort of final-year students ( n = 27) across in-training evaluation reports (ITERs) and entrustment scales in a distributed veterinary hospital environment. Here we compare progression in scoring and performance within and across student, within and across method of assessment, over time. Narrative comments were quantified using the Completed Clinical Evaluation Report Rating (CCERR) instrument to assess quality of written comments. Preliminary evidence suggests that we may be capturing different aspects of performance using these two different methods. Specifically, entrustment scale scores significantly increased over time, while ITER scores did not. Typically, comments on entrustment scale scores were more learner specific, longer, and used more of a coaching voice. Longitudinal evaluation of learner performance is important for learning and demonstration of competence; however, the method of data collection could influence how feedback is structured and how performance is ultimately judged.