1Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram-442102, Maharashtra, India
2Professor and Head, Radiology, Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram-442102, Maharashtra, India
3Professor, Dermatology and Venereal Diseases, MCI Nodal Center
4Convener, MCI Nodal Center
5Professor, Physiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sawangi, Wardha, Maharashtra, India
*Corresponding author email id: stayade@mgims.ac.in
Online published on 29 November, 2018.
The Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX) is a method for simultaneously assessing the clinical skills of trainees and offering them feedback on their performance. It is a 15-20-min observation or ‘snapshot’ of a physician/patient interaction and focuses on core skills that trainees should demonstrate in patient encounters. It can be easily implemented in any setting by preceptors as a routine, seamless assessment of trainees. It has the advantage of having an inbuilt mechanism of providing instant feedback to the student.
Ten assessors evaluated 16 postgraduate residents of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 32 mini-CEX encounters in real patient setting of the outpatient unit, labour ward and antenatal ward with each student undergoing two assessments 1 month apart. Constructive feedback was given with an action plan and 1-month time was provided for self-reflection and practice after which second mini-CEX was conducted.
The average time for the encounters was 19.12 min and 19.37 min (first and second, respectively) and that for feedback were 8.27 and 7.44 min for the first and second encounter, respectively. The mean scores for the first and second encounter for medical interview skill were 3.56 and 7.18; for physical examination skills, 3.43 and 7.18; for professionalism, 3.18 and 7.06; for clinical judgement, 3.31 and 7.06; for counselling skills, 2.93 and 7.31; for organisational efficiency, 3.31 and 7.37, respectively and for overall competence, it was 3.43 and 7.0; the difference between scores was found to be statistically significant by Student's paired t test. The relative gain, absolute gain and learning efficiency score of mini-CEX for all seven competencies were high and were statistically significant. Faculty and students had good satisfaction with mini-CEX and perceived it as an efficient learning tool.
Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise is an effective learning tool and is acceptable and feasible in residency programme of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Mini-CEX, Assessment, Medical education, Obstetrics residency programme, DOPS
