Assessment tools

The framework of assessments intended to be used with the OST Curriculum has been developed to ensure that existing and new assessments tools are the most appropriate for the purpose.

The Assessment Strategy defines the critical advancement stages that ophthalmologists in training need to pass through in order to progress to the next level of training and be awarded the Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) at the end of the programme.

A separate Assessment Blueprint indicates the assessment requirements at each critical advancement point against Learning Outcomes.

The Matrix of Progression is intended to give ARCP panels consistent guidance as to the curriculum requirements for each ST year.

Formative tools are used to give immediate feedback. They may be employed to identify areas for development, guide learning, reassure about knowledge and skills, prompt reflection and nurture appropriate attitudinal responses. They may also be collated and used to give a rounded view of a doctor’s performance, contributing to summative judgements.

Summative assessments are utilised to make an overall judgment regarding competence, fitness to practice or qualification for progression to higher levels of responsibility.

Central to the assessment cycle is the professional, accountable judgement that trainers make to confirm that ophthalmologists in training have met the Learning Outcomes and the expected levels of performance.

Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA) tools map to all of the Learning Outcomes for each of the four levels in the Patient Management domain. Learning Outcomes of a given level are assessed in an integrated way in the context of meaningful clinical activity. Summative entrustment decisions are made for that level, and the EPAs is employed to inform decisions taken by the Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) panel relating to progression at critical advancement points.

EPA forms include a self-assessment section, which is designed to facilitate professional insight and reflection on the formative feedback. While longitudinal, periodic observation of performance is a key aspect on which to base the entrustment decision, trainers must consider some mandatory pieces of evidence.

Hover over a form code to download a Word version.

Assessment of Performance

Assessment tool	Function	Code	Domain	Level	Required number
Entrustable Professional Activity	Function Assessment of clinical learning outcomes for 12 Special Interest Areas (SIAs)	Code EPA-L1 EPA-L2	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 1 Level 2	Required number 1 every 6 months
Entrustable Professional Activity	Function Assessment of clinical learning outcomes for 12 SIAs – each SIA has its own EPA	Code EPA-L3 OO EPA-L3 COS EPA-L3 CS EPA-L3 G EPA-L3 U EPA-L3 MR EPA-L3 VR EPA-L3 OM EPA-L3 NO EPA-L3 PO EPA-L3 UEC EPA-L3 CO	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 3	Required number 1 for every SIA (12 in total)
Entrustable Professional Activity	Function Assessment of clinical learning outcomes for 12 SIAs – each SIA has its own EPA. Some EPAs require Managing an Operating List EPA*.	Code EPA-L4 OO EPA-L4 COS EPA-L4 CS EPA-L4 G EPA-L4 U EPA-L4 MR EPA-L4 VR EPA-L4 OM EPA-L4 NO EPA-L4 PO EPA-L4 UEC EPA-L4 CO	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 4	Required number 2 out of 12 SIAs (1 each, every 6 months)
Multi-Assessor Report	Function Assessment of clinical learning outcomes – reviewed as part of EPAs	Code MAR	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4	Required number Specified by Named Clinical Supervisor (NCS)
Generic Skills Assessment Tool	Function Assessment of non-clinical learning outcomes – Educational Supervisor (ES) is responsible for completion	Code GSAT-L1 GSAT-L2 GSAT-L3 GSAT-L4	Domain Health Promotion Leadership and Team Working Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Safeguarding and Holistic Patient Care Education and Training Research and Scholarship	Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4	Required number 1 every 6 months for all 4 Levels
Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills	Function Tool to assess ocular surgery	Code OSATS	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4	Required number No indicative numbers
Direct Observation of Procedural Skills – Biometry	Function Tool to assess biometry skills	Code DOPSBi	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 2 Level 4	Required number No indicative numbers
Managing an Operating List	Function Summative tool to assess whether an ophthalmologist in training can be entrusted to manage an operating list independently in the relevant SIA	Code EPA-OL*	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 4	Required number No indicative numbers
Multi-source Feedback	Function Tool used to assess professional competence	Code MSF	Domain Leadership and Team Working Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Safeguarding and Holistic Patient Care	Level N/A	Required number 1 per calendar year

Supervised Learning Event

Assessment tool	Function	Code	Domain	Level	Required number
Clinical Rating Scale	Function Formative tool to assess a variety of clinical skill competencies (examination/use of equipment)	Code CRSGon	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 1	Required number No indicative numbers
Clinical Rating Scale	Function Formative tool to assess a variety of clinical skill competencies (examination/use of equipment)	Code CRSRet	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 2	Required number No indicative numbers
Clinical Rating Scale	Function Formative tool to assess a variety of clinical skill competencies (examination/use of equipment)	Code CRS1 CRS2 CRS3 CRS5 CRS6 CRS7 CRS8 CRS9 CRS10a CRS10b CRS10c CRS10d	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4	Required number No indicative numbers
Case-based Discussion	Function Tool to assess clinical judgement, decision making skills, case-note writing and clinical management	Code CbD	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4	Required number No indicative numbers
Direct Observation of Procedural Skills	Function Tool to assess procedural skills and gain formative feedback	Code DOPS	Domain Patient Management	Level Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4	Required number No indicative numbers

Assessment of Performance

Entrustable Professional Activity

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Entrustable Professional Activity

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Entrustable Professional Activity

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Multi-Assessor Report

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Generic Skills Assessment Tool

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Direct Observation of Procedural Skills – Biometry

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Managing an Operating List

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Multi-source Feedback

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Supervised Learning Event

Clinical Rating Scale

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Clinical Rating Scale

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Clinical Rating Scale

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number

Case-based Discussion

Function

Code

Domain

Level

Required number