Emerging concepts in the CanMEDS physician competency framework

Brent Thoma; Linda Snell; Rob Anderson; Jason Frank; Leon Tourian; Nancy Fowler; Carlos Gomez-Garibello; Andrew K Hall; Evelyn Constantin; Adelle Atkinson; Teresa M Chan; Meredith Giuliani; Heather Waters; Nicole Labine; Louise Samson; Anna Karwowska; Elaine Van Melle

doi:10.36834/cmej.75591

Authors

Brent Thoma University of Saskatchewan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1124-5786
Linda Snell McGill University
Rob Anderson Northern Ontario School of Medicine https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2009-2980
Jason Frank University of Ottawa
Leon Tourian McGill University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8915-6794
Nancy Fowler McMaster University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8886-7121
Carlos Gomez-Garibello College of Family Physicians of Canada
Andrew K Hall University of Ottawa https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1227-5397
Evelyn Constantin McGill University
Adelle Atkinson University of Toronto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7604-5964
Teresa M Chan McMaster University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6104-462X
Meredith Giuliani University of Toronto
Heather Waters McMaster University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9123-5010
Nicole Labine University of Saskatchewan
Louise Samson Univeristy of Montreal
Anna Karwowska Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0132-4803
Elaine Van Melle Queen's University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.75591

Abstract

Background: The CanMEDS physician competency framework will be updated in 2025. The revision occurs during a time of disruption and transformation to society, healthcare, and medical education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and growing acknowledgement of the impacts of colonialism, systemic discrimination, climate change, and emerging technologies on healthcare and training. To inform this revision, we sought to identify emerging concepts in the literature related to physician competencies.

Methods: Emerging concepts were defined as ideas discussed in the literature related to the roles and competencies of physicians that are absent or underrepresented in the 2015 CanMEDS framework. We conducted a literature scan, title and abstract review, and thematic analysis to identify emerging concepts. Metadata for all articles published in five medical education journals between October 1, 2018 and October 1, 2021 were extracted. Fifteen authors performed a title and abstract review to identify and label underrepresented concepts. Two authors thematically analyzed the results to identify emerging concepts. A member check was conducted.

Results: 1017 of 4973 (20.5%) of the included articles discussed an emerging concept. The thematic analysis identified ten themes: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice; Anti-racism; Physician Humanism; Data-Informed Medicine; Complex Adaptive Systems; Clinical Learning Environment; Virtual Care; Clinical Reasoning; Adaptive Expertise; and Planetary Health. All themes were endorsed by the authorship team as emerging concepts.

Conclusion: This literature scan identified ten emerging concepts to inform the 2025 revision of the CanMEDS physician competency framework. Open publication of this work will promote greater transparency in the revision process and support an ongoing dialogue on physician competence. Writing groups have been recruited to elaborate on each of the emerging concepts and how they could be further incorporated into CanMEDS 2025.

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