Table 1 Descriptions of the 12 core end-of-undergraduate medical training EPAs as elaborated in the survey

1.

Take a medical history, perform a physical examination and summarize the results in a structured manner (typical presentations and/or common disease/complaint patterns)

2.

Compile a diagnostic plan and initiate implementation (common and typical complaints, findings and clinical pictures, stepwise diagnostics)

3.

Interpret test results and initiate further steps (commonly used tests)

4.

Compile a treatment plan and initiate implementation (common diseases, typical courses)

5.

Perform general procedures of a physician (at least 5 of the following 7 medical procedures: venous blood sampling, insertion of a peripheral access [venule], taking a blood culture, taking a smear, administering an infusion, applying simple dressings, recording a 12-lead ECG)

6.

Seek consent for medical procedures and diagnostics (informing about the procedure, benefits, risks and possible alternatives)

7.

Inform and advise patients (common counselling reasons and complaint pattern)

8.

Present a patient history (structured; according to target person[s] and situation requirements)

9.

Give or receive a patient handover (structured; according to target person[s] and situation requirements)

10.

Write and transmit a patient report (structured; make or initiate report transmission)

11.

Recognize an emergency situation and act upon it (roughly estimate the criticalness, provide immediate medical assistance, call for help)

12.

Undertake an evidence-based patient case and initiate patient-specific implementation (application of evidence-based medicine, including literature search)