J Educ Eval Health Prof.  2015;12:6. 10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.6.

Reforms of the Korean Medical Licensing Examination regarding item development and performance evaluation

• Yim MK

• KMID: 2402013
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2015.12.6

Abstract

PURPOSE
The Korean Medical Licensing Examination (KMLE) has undergone a variety of innovative reforms implemented by the National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board (NHPLEB) in order to make it a competency-based test. The purpose of this article is to describe the ways in which the KMLE has been reformed and the effect of those innovations on medical education in Korea.
METHODS
Changes in the KMLE were traced from 1994 to 2014 by reviewing the adoption of new policies by the NHPLEB and the relevant literature.
RESULTS
The most important reforms that turned the examination into a competency-based test were the following: First, the subjects tested on the exam were revised; second, R-type items were introduced; third, the proportion of items involving problem-solving skills was increased; and fourth, a clinical skills test was introduced in addition to the written test. The literature shows that the above reforms have resulted in more rigorous licensure standards and have improved the educational environment of medical schools in Korea.
CONCLUSION
The reforms of the KMLE have led to improvements in how the competency of examinees is evaluated, as well as improvements in the educational system in medical schools in Korea.

Keyword

Clinical competence; Licensure; Medical education; Medical schools; Republic of Korea

MeSH Terms

Clinical Competence
Education, Medical
Health Personnel
Humans
Korea
Licensure*
Republic of Korea
Schools, Medical

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Chronological change of the percentage of items of a given type in the Korean Medical Licensing Examination. A-type, one best answer type; K-type, multiple true-false type; R-type, extended matching type.

• 

  Fig. 2. Chronological change of the percentage of items testing a given level of knowledge in the Korean Medical Licensing Examination.

Reference

1. National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board. Twenty years history of National Health Personnel Licensing Examination. Seoul: National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board;2012.

2. National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board. Statistics annual report. Seoul: National Health Personnel Licensing Examination Board;2013.

3. Yim MK, Huh S. Usability of extended-matching type items in the Korean Medical Licensing Examinations (2002, 2003). Korean J Med Educ. 2004; 16:219–226. http://dx.doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2004.16.2.219.

4. Kim KS. Introduction and administration of the clinical skill test of the medical licensing examination, Republic of Korea (2009). J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2010; 7:4. http://dx.doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2010.7.4.

5. Park HK. The impact of introducing the Korean Medical Licensing Examination clinical skills assessment on medical education. J Korean Med Assoc. 2012; 55:116–123. http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2012.55.2.116.

6. Kim SM, Park I, Chang HS, Park EC. Improvement in clinical performance of interns and residents through clinical skills assessment of the Korean Medical Licensing Examination. Korean J Med Educ. 2012; 24:329–338. http://dx.doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2012.24.4.329.

7. Hwang JY, Jeong HS. Relationship between the content of the medical knowledge written examination and clinical skill score in medical students. Korean J Med Educ. 2011; 23:305–314. http://dx.doi.org/10.3946/kjme.2011.23.4.305.

8. Chung MH. President’s address: research and development on computer-based testing and extension of clinical skill examination to a variety of fields. J Educ Eval Health Prof. 2013; 10:1. http://dx.doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2013.10.1.