Comparing intern’s assessments using mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX) with existing workplace based assessments in emergency medicine term.

This study compares the mini-CEX assessment to the current assessment tool using a cohort of ED Interns to determine the comparability of the two tools.

Grant ID: T-2010-021-BRAZIL-CEX

Project Summary

With increasing numbers of Australian medical graduates, there has been a significant increase in the intern teaching and supervision workload in emergency departments (EDs). As a result, there is the potential for dilution of supervision, making assessment of intern performance more challenging. The current process for evaluating interns has no formal requirement for direct observation of an intern’s history taking or clinical examination skills. Rather the assessment of their abilities is largely derived from the quality of presentation of their clinical findings to the senior doctors supervising them. In most EDs end of term assessments are based on facilitated discussion involving these senior medical staff at the end of term. This method has a number of potential problems. It may miss critical gaps in performance through lack of direct observation. Moreover, it is likely to disproportionately favour those with excellent communication skills.

It has been suggested that deficiencies with the current work based assessment practices in pre-vocational medical education may be addressed through use of a tool called the mini-CEX. The mini-CEX was introduced in the mid 1990s. It requires direct observation of intern’s clinical skills on a real patient, providing information in an authentic context for summative assessment purposes. It also facilitates timely and case relevant feedback to the interns, and thus is useful for formative feedback.


Dissemination

Gosbell, A.D., Mitchell, R.D., Brazil, V.A. and Killen, A.M., 2013. The need for quality and quantity in emergency medical care rotations for interns. The Medical Journal of Australia, 198(6), pp.313-314.

Mitchell, R.D., Jamieson, J.C., Parker, J., Hersch, F.B., Wainer, Z. and Moodie, A.R., 2013. Global health training and postgraduate medical education in Australia: the case for greater integration. Medical Journal of Australia, 198(6), pp.316-319.

Brazil, V., Ratcliffe, L., Zhang, J. and Davin, L., 2012. Mini-CEX as a workplace-based assessment tool for interns in an emergency department–Does cost outweigh value?. Medical Teacher, 34(12), pp.1017-1023.

Bonning, M.A., Fielke, R.J. and Mitchell, R.D., 2012. The case for a national intern allocation system in Australia. Medical Journal of Australia, 197(4), p.206.


SHARE

Amount Awarded
$8,774.87


Program


Grant Scheme


Status
Complete


Principal Investigator:
Dr Victoria Brazil


Co Investigators:
Dr Leanne Ratcliffe
Ms Lorna Davin
Dr Sharyn Smith


Institution



CONTACT US +61 7 3720 5700 info@emfoundation.org.au Suite 1B, Terraces, 19 Lang Parade, Milton Qld 4064