Clinical Performance Assessment as a Model of Korean Medical Licensure Examination

Hwang, Kun; Lee, Young Mee; Baik, Sang Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evaluation of clinical performance is an essential area for the students who are preparing their career as a medical doctor. However the clinical skills has neither been taught with balanced proportion nor adequately being assessed their abilities. Yet no significant studies on this issue has been reported in Korea so far. The present study was done as a part of preliminary study to seek a model that would be introduced clinical performance assessment in Korean Medical Licensure Examination system. Purpose: The objectives of this study is to develop items of clinical performance and the effective methods to carry out the clinical performance assessment in Korean Medical Licensure Examination system.
METHODS
Primary list of clinical performances which was generated through discussion between researchers and medical experts has been distributed to the physicians of various levels. Six hundred ninety seven medical doctors including professors, family physicians, and public health doctors were asked to express their opinion by mail questionnaire. Final items were selected after the reaction of questionnaires and each item has been carefully studied its validity, achievability, and practicality.
RESULTS
Thirty five items were selected among fifty one items presented according to the checked number of "essential" and "frequently useful". Seven items were added according to the higher rate of recommendation by open questionnaire. The forty two items were confirmed as a final list which the students should be expected to demonstrate prior to graduation from undergraduate medical school("exit objective"). The OSCE was performed without any serious logistic problems and both examinees and evaluators thought the experience positively.
CONCLUSION
To look at the present environment and the readiness it is recommendable to apply the items of psychomotor skills at the beginning for Medical Licensure Examination. For that purpose various medical dolls, kits and subjects can be used.