Foundation trainees in our region find the NHS ePortfolio a useful learning tool. This, however, may be at the expense of causing significant stress. The perceived usefulness of ePortfolio showed considerable variably between trusts.  

NHS ePortfolio is an online system used to collect assessment tools and demonstrate training and competency. It is a compulsory means of assessment of the progress of foundation doctors.  There have been anecdotal reports of unhappiness around its use. We looked at the responses to questions regarding e-Portfolio from the Northern Deanery’s Your School Your Say (YSYS) foundation doctor survey.  

Results from Northern Deanery’s YSYS survey suggest that ePortfolio is perceived to be a useful but stressful teaching tool.

621 foundation doctors (234 male, 379 female) from 9 trusts responded to the Northern Deanery’s YSYS survey. 318 (51%) were FY1 doctors, 290 (47%) were FY2 and 13 (2%) were in standalone FY2 posts. These responses were reviewed and analysed.

56% found the ePortfolio ‘very useful’, however there was significant variability between trusts within the region with only 42% agreeing in one trust compared with 72% in the highest ranking trust.

79% found using ePortfolio stressful with noticeably less variability between trusts in this respect (range 68-81%).  23% of respondents strongly agreed with this statement.  Overall the majority (76%) found work place based assessments useful.