UKFPO Fellow project summary – Foundation doctor perceptions of the e-portfolio

The e-portfolio is used by foundation doctors (FDs) to evidence their progression against 13 Foundation Professional Capabilities (FPCs). Few studies have been carried out in the past decade looking at FD perception of the e-portfolio and barriers to their engagement with the e-portfolio. This project was suggested to explore FDs’ experiences of using the e-portfolio in the UK to identify which FPCs were easiest and most challenging, with a view to create resources to improve the e-portfolio experience.

Contact Dr Devon Ward (2025-26 UKFPO Fellow) for queries: ward.devon.99@gmail.com

Project summary

FDs are expected to evidence their progression in line with the UK Foundation Programme Curriculum, which includes 13 FPCs. The e-portfolio is used to evidence formative learning against each of these FPCs, encompassing practical and clinical skills, as well as holistic development including professional and ethical skills.

A questionnaire was sent out via UKFPO channels and advertised at the National Foundation Doctors Presentation Day 2026, Foundation Doctors Advisory Board meetings and Medical Education Leaders UK Sharing Best Practice Conference 2026. The questionnaire assessed which FPCs FDs found the easiest and most challenging to map evidence to, why they found some FPCs more challenging and what they felt was appropriate to map to their e-portfolio using multiple-choice questions.

399 responses were received from 16 of 18 foundation schools, with a good split between FY1 and FY2 responses.

FDs reported that it was easiest to find evidence to map to FPC 1, FPC 3 and FPC 4, which are all HLO 1 outcomes. FDs reported it was hardest to find evidence map to FPC 11, FPC 8, FPC 7 and FPC 9, which are predominantly HLO 2 outcomes. The most common reasons these were reported to be harder were being vaguely defined (69.9%) and not being perceived as easily mapping to FD roles (61.9%).

FDs reported useful interventions to improve their perceptions of the e-portfolio would be more clarity on what is appropriate to map and examples from other FDs’ e-portfolios. FDs reported that local teaching and national webinars would be less useful than these recommendations.

Lastly, FDs thought it was more appropriate to map more traditional skills, such as clinical skills and practical skills, than non-traditional skills such as written poetry, learning a language or engaging in a sport. However, more creative activities may also be worth considering where they provide meaningful evidence of professional development in line with the curriculum.

Interventions

The next steps for the project are to try and improve resources and understanding for the FPCs that were reported to be more challenging to map. This will be multi-factorial, and so far includes the following: