ETAP 2.0: It’s time for health institutions in Europe and beyond to harmonise their radiology training programmes

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ETAP 2.0: It’s time for health institutions in Europe and beyond to harmonise their radiology training programmes

INTERVIEWS – NEW ETAP 2.0 CERTIFICATION

The previous European Training Assessment Programme (ETAP) was established as a joint initiative of the former European Association of Radiology (EAR) and the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) Radiology section back in 2001, with the aim of assessing and harmonising the radiology training programmes of health institutions in Europe.

In March 2016, following the proposal of Prof. Laura Oleaga’s (ESR Education Committee chairperson for the 2015–2018 term), the ESR and the UEMS Radiology Section agreed on bringing the project up to date and establishing the ETAP 2.0 by moving from on-site assessment visits to virtual assessment with a view to achieving recognition as a certificate of excellence  and added value by different institutions from Europe and beyond. At the same time, it was decided to move the project under the umbrella of the European Board of Radiology (EBR), meaning that the EBR will oversee a project in line with its objective of harmonising radiological standards in education. The ETAP 2.0 was successfully launched at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2018.

The differential element of the ETAP 2.0 is its platform, which enables a quick and easy certification process for both applicants and assessors. Representatives of the applicant institutions and the assessors can easily and efficiently store, access and manage all documents and information necessary for the certification process.

The final outcome of the certification of the relevant training departments is determined using a weighting system for the different areas of evaluation based on the material provided by the institution; namely the questionnaires and information provided by the head of training and the residents, the video of the institution facilities and equipment, and the online interviews. The weighting of the questionnaire is based on the relevance of each one of the questions with respect to the skills, knowledge, competences and attitudes that a trainee must acquire during the training programme.

The areas evaluated are:

  • the structure and management of the training programme
  • the delivery of training and education
  • radiology facilities and resources
  • research facilities
 and possibilities.

The ETAP 2.0 certification, classified in three levels (Silver, Gold and Platinum), ensures that your training department meets the quality standards set by the European Society of Radiology (ESR European Training Curriculum) and the UEMS, giving visibility to its quality with European and international recognition. It further certifies that your training programme is effective as well as your residents’ level of competence, attitude and development of new skills.

 

Interviews/Statement:

* Prof. Dragos Negru

(ETAP 2.0 Scientific Director and Chair for the 2013-2015 term of the former ESR ETAP subcommittee)

Questions:

  1. Which aspects of the new ETAP 2.0 would you highlight? / In relation with the former ETAP programme, which aspects have been enhanced with the ETAP 2.0?
    The new ETAP 2.0 represents a step forward in the attempt to harmonise radiological training around Europe, which will be of major benefit to healthcare systems. In comparison to the  former programme, this new programme is designed to be conducted online to make it more user-friendly for both assessors and training centres. Moreover, it is faster and will be more cost-effective for the ESR, the UEMS and the assessed centre.
  2. Since the assessment process takes place online, how are accuracy and objectivity ensured?
    Accuracy and objectivity are guaranteed thanks to the detailed questionnaire which must be completed by the centre and verified during the online interviews with the chairperson of the department, with the person in charge of the training and with the residents.
  3. As assessor, do you think that the questions and information provided by the applicant institution gave you an accurate picture of the radiology training centres to be assessed?
    Is the mandatory information enough?The answer is definitively yes. Videos are very important for showing the training conditions and all the department’s resources: medical equipment, IT facilities and the library. The questionnaire was developed by colleagues who have a keen interest in education in radiology.
  4. Why should radiology training programmes in Europe obtain ETAP 2.0 certification?
    We believe that the ETAP 2.0 certificate is equivalent to the European Diploma in Radiology (EDiR) for radiology training departments.

 

* Prof. Hannu Aronen

(UEMS representative on the ETAP 2.0 Scientific Committee and UEMS representative member of the former ESR ETAP subcommittee (2013-2017).

Questions:

  1. Which aspects of the new ETAP 2.0 would you highlight? / In relation with the former ETAP programme, which aspects have been enhanced with the ETAP 2.0?
    I would like to highlight that ETAP 2.0 offers training centres an opportunity for self-development. Self-evaluation of the training programme is essential for an audit. The work carried out before the online evaluation interviews is also very useful. Significant relevant experience has been gained during the last 15 years with the ETAP programme. However, the total number of centres evaluated by the former ETAP programme was only 25. We expect to maintain the high standards of the former ETAP programme and to be able to evaluate more centres.
  2. Since the assessment process takes place online, how are accuracy and objectivity ensured?
    The centre provides extensive material before the online interviews. A comprehensive questionnaire covers a wide range of information about the structure and practice of the local resident training programmes. The material submitted by the centre covers a lot of information that had to be collected on site in the past. The new ETAP 2.0 procedure will be based on hard facts because systematic numerical evaluation is used and the subjective component of the evaluation has been reduced.
  3. As assessor, do you think that the questions and information provided by the applicant institution gave you an accurate picture of the radiology training centres to be assessed? Is the mandatory information enough?
    Generally, the information provided by the applicant institution gives us an accurate picture of the quality of the department’s radiology training for the centre. Furthermore, you can ask more specific questions during the online interviews. I have always emphasised that, although radiological research is not the main aspect to be evaluated by ETAP 2.0, the training centre will not be awarded the maximum score if it does not support and encourage their residents to conduct research. Active research aimed at younger residents should be supported during the specialisation period. This might be an area where even more specific information should be gathered, especially research carried out by the residents themselves.
  4. Why should the radiology training programmes in Europe obtain the ETAP 2.0 certification?
    Every radiology training programme practice in Europe could be improved. A particular feature is that the professors responsible for training the residents are usually very well informed about the revised European Training Curriculum for Radiology, whereas the level of knowledge of the European Guidelines varies among the section heads who are responsible for the actual training in each subspecialty. ETAP 2.0 may indirectly help in this matter, increasing awareness about the requirements of European standards. I would also like to emphasise that the requirements for European training centres do not only cover knowledge, but also skills and attitudes which are increasingly important nowadays in the healthcare field. In any case, radiology training programmes in Europe should be evaluated every five years, and ETAP 2.0 offers a cost-effective way to accomplish this task. It is necessary that we, as radiologists, evaluate our specialist training. In this sense, ETAP 2.0 offers a way of protecting the autonomy of radiology by maintaining high standards of excellence.

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