Challenges Faced in Implementation of Competency-based Medical Education: A Survey among Medical Education Unit Members

Introduction:Competency-based medical education (CBME) was introduced in India in 2019 for undergraduate medical education.The medical education unit (MEU) is an integral part of the system that implements CBME in medical colleges.Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted on MEU members of the six medical colleges of Udaipur and the adjacent district of Rajasthan.The questionnaire consisted of closed and open-ended questions and was related to difficulties and challenges faced during the planning and implementation of CBME.Results: A total of 32 MEU members responded out of 50 contacted (response rate 60%).A total of 100% were trained in the CBME course, and 68.75% had taken a session in the curriculum implementation support program (CISP) workshop as a resource faculty.A total of 81.25% found themselves sufficiently competent in attitude, ethics and communication (AETCOM), 75% reported competency in blueprinting, and 31.25% reported competency in understanding CBME.A total of 75% felt the need for frequent training in AETCOM.For better implementation of CBME, 81% suggested frequent hands-on workshops for faculty training.Conclusion: Medical education unit members consider themselves competent in a few aspects of CBME, yet there is a need for frequent and regular faculty training workshops for better understanding and implementation.