Qualitative study to identify the perception and challenges faced by the faculty of community medicine in the implementation of competency-based medical education for postgraduate students

OBJECTIVES: To identify perception about the key aspects of competency-based medical education (CBME) among community medicine faculty members and to ascertain the various challenges faced by them during its implementation. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study of 2 months’ duration was conducted among the faculty members of the community medicine department. Non-probability purposive sampling was employed in the study. Free listing was done initially to elicit the views of faculty members to meet the intended objectives. Visual Anthropac software was used to identify the salient variables using Smith’s Salience Score, and then pile sorting was done to identify the association between the salient variables. RESULTS: Three faculty members participated in the free listing and pile sorting. A total of 20 responses were obtained pertaining to the key aspects of CBME, of which 12 were identified as the salient variables depending on the cut-off value of 0.125 (Smith’s Salience Score) and subjected to pile sorting. Similarly, eight challenges were identified in the implementation of the programme during the free listing, and all were included in the second stage of pile sorting. Cognitive maps were drawn to understand the relationship between the key aspects of CBME and involved challenges separately. CONCLUSION: On employing the free listing and pile sorting methods, formulation of entrustable professional activities and their assessment using appropriate tools were the identified crucial areas in CBME, while the lack of sensitisation of stakeholders and inadequate planning were identified as the predominant challenges in the implementation of CBME.