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3 . 2016

Use of computer-based clinical examination to assess medical students in surgery

Abstract

Introduction. To improve the viewing of the video-projected structured clinical exami­nation (ViPSCE), we developed a comput-erizedversion; the computer-based clinical examination (CCE). This was used to as­sess medical students' higher knowledge and problem solvingskills in surgery. We present how we did this, test score descrip­tive statistics, and the students' evaluation of the CCE.

Methods. A CCE insurgery was admin­istered to assess a class of 43 final year medical students at the end of their surgi­cal clerkship. Like the ViPSCE, the exam was delivered as a slide show, using a Pow­erPoint computer program. However, in­stead of projecting it onto a screen, each student used a computer. There were 20 slides containing either still photos or short video clips of clinical situations in surgery. The students answeredby hand writing on the exam papers. At the end, they complet­ed evaluation forms. The exam papers were corrected manually. Test score descriptive statistics were calculated and correlated with the students' scores in other exams in surgery.

Results. Administration of the CCE was straightforward. The test scores were nor­mally distributed (mean = median = 4.9). They correlated significantly with the total scores obtained by the students in surgery (r=0.68), and with each of the other exam modalities in surgery, such as the multiple choice and structured essay questions. Ac­ceptability of the CCE to the students was high and they recommended the use of the CCE in other departments.

Discussion. CCE is feasible and popular with students. It inherits the validity and reliability of the ViPSCE with the added advantage of improving the viewing of the slides.

Keywords:• assessment of medical students • computer assisted assessment (CAA) • computer-based assessment (CBA) • е-assessment of surgical clerkship examination • оbjective structured clinical exam (OSCE) • undergraduate medical education • video-projected structured clinical examination (ViPSCE)

Meditsinskoe obrazovanie i professional’noe razvitie [Medical Education and Professional Development]. 2016; (3): 113–122.

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CHIEF EDITOR
CHIEF EDITOR
Balkizov Zalim Zamirovich
Secretary General of the Russian Society of Medical Education Specialists, Director of the Institute of Training of Medical Education Specialists of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuing Professional Education, 125993, Moscow, Russian Federation, Professor of the Department of Vocational Education and Educational Technologies of the N.I. Pirogov RNIMU of the MOH of Russia, CEO of GEOTAR-Med, Advisor President of the National Medical Chamber, Moscow, Russian Federation

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