SaudiMEDs and CanMEDs frameworks: similarities and differences

Figures & data

Table 1 The assigned coloring system used to compare both frameworks

Yellow	Identical similarities
Blue	Similar concepts but different writing style
Green	Similar ideas but written in different way or placed in a different category
Red	Uniquely written in just one of the frameworks

Table 2 Similarity between SaudiMEDS and CanMEDS frameworks with same wording in all competencies

1	Clinical reasoning
2	Determinants of health
3	Disease prevention
4	Evidence-based medicine/Evidence-based health care
5	Health promotion
6	Lifelong learning
7	Research ethics and scholarly inquiry
8	Breaking bad news
9	Clinical decision-making

Table 3 Similar concepts in both frameworks but with different wording

	SaudiMEDS	CanMEDS
Communicator	Explain the role of behavioral and psychosocial aspects of diseases	Attention to the psychosocial aspects of illness
	Communicating in writing; Writing patient’s records	Effective oral and written information for patients
	Apply the theories and principles of ethics	Communicate using a patient-centered approach that encourages application of ethics
	Construct decisions in partnership with patients and/or their carers.	Helping patients and their families make informed decisions regarding their health
	Use technology and information systems effectively, including storing and retrieving of information.	Information technology for health care
Collaborator	Practice teamwork and inter-professional collaboration	Establish and maintain positive relationships with physicians and other colleagues
	Collaborate and identify the roles of various healthcare professionals	Negotiate overlapping and shared responsibilities with physicians and colleagues
	Make clinical judgments and decisions, in partnership with other colleagues	Engage in respectful shared decision-making with physicians and other colleagues
	Demonstrate the ability to prevent and resolve inter-professional team conflicts	Implement strategies to promote understanding, manage differences in a professional way
Leader	Select the most appropriate and cost-effective diagnostic procedures	Apply evidence and management processes to achieve cost-appropriate care
	Demonstrate appropriate leadership and management skills	Demonstrate leadership skills to enhance health care
	Demonstrate personal time management and balance between professional and personal responsibilities	Set priorities and manage time to integrate practice and personal life
Medical expert	Integrate basic, clinical, behavioral and social sciences in medical practice	Apply knowledge of the clinical and biomedical sciences relevant to their discipline
	Formulate and prioritize a differential diagnosis	Prioritize issues to be addressed in a patient encounter
	Manage patients with life-threatening medical conditions and common medical problems	Elicit a professional approach for emergencies and common medical issues
	Use clinical reasoning, decision making, and problem-solving skills in medical practice	Establish a patient-centered management plan with the use of clinical reasoning skills.

Table 4 Major differences between CanMEDS and SaudiMEDS

Only in SaudiMEDS		Only in CanMEDS
Scientific Approach to Practice	Acknowledge the principles of spiritual and Prophetic Medicine	Scholar	Engage in collaborative learning
	Recognize the principles and roles of complementary and alternative medicine		Recognize the influence of role-modelling
			Recognize practice uncertainty and knowledge gaps
Community-Oriented Practice	Advocate access to healthcare for members of traditionally underserved populations (rural communities, people with disabilities, elderly, minorities and others)
	Explain the impact of chronic diseases and disabilities on individuals, their families and society

Figure 1 The Six Main Themes in SaudiMEDS. SaudiMEDs framework 2016: Saudi medical education directives framework. In press.

Figure 2 The seven main competencies in CanMEDS. Copyright © 2015 The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/canmeds/canmeds-framework-e. Reproduced with permission.