Relationship between medical programme progress test performance and surgical clinical attachment timing and performance

Wearn, A; Bindra, V; Patten, B; Loveday, BPT

Author(s): Wearn, A; Bindra, V; Patten, B; Loveday, BPT;
Details: Publication Year 2023-08,Volume 45,Issue #8,Page 877-884
Journal Title: Medical Teacher
Publication Type: Research article
Abstract: PURPOSE: Progress tests (PTs) assess applied knowledge, promote knowledge integration, and facilitate retention. Clinical attachments catalyse learning through an appropriate learning context. The relationship between PT results and clinical attachment sequence and performance are under-explored. Aims: (1) Determine the effect of Year 4 general surgical attachment (GSA) completion and sequence on overall PT performance, and for surgically coded items; (2) Determine the association between PT results in the first 2 years and GSA assessment outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All students enrolled in the medical programme, who started Year 2 between January 2013 and January 2016, were included; with follow up until December 2018. A linear mixed model was applied to study the effect of undertaking a GSA on subsequent PT results. Logistic regressions were used to explore the effect of past PT performance on the likelihood of a student receiving a distinction grade in the GSA. RESULTS: 965 students were included, representing 2191 PT items (363 surgical items). Sequenced exposure to the GSA in Year 4 was associated with increased performance on surgically coded PT items, but not overall performance on the PT, with the difference decreasing over the year. PT performance in Years 2-3 was associated with an increased likelihood of being awarded a GSA distinction grade (OR 1.62, p < 0.001), with overall PT performance a better predictor than performance on surgically coded items. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to a surgical attachment improves PT results in surgically coded PT items, although with a diminishing effect over time, implying clinical exposure may accelerate subject specific learning. Timing of the GSA did not influence end of year performance in the PT. There is some evidence that students who perform well on PTs in preclinical years are more likely to receive a distinction grade in a surgical attachment than those with lower PT scores.
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Keywords: Humans; Educational Measurement/methods; Learning; Students; Curriculum; *Education, Medical, Undergraduate/methods; *Students, Medical; Medical students; assessment; clinical attachment; progress testing
Department(s): Surgical Oncology
PubMed ID: 36905609
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2023.2186205
Open Access at Publisher's Site: https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159x.2023.2186205
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2023-11-14 12:42:05

Last Modified: 2023-11-14 12:43:26