Abstract: Background: Medical education in India is undergoing paradigm shift from traditional teacher centered teaching to integrated, interactive, students centric teaching. Present day evaluation methods are lot to be desired. Assessment of students is very important in facilitating students to know how competent they are. Mini clinical assessment has been accepted as an efficient tool to measure the competencies.
Aim: To assess the effectivity of mini-clinical exam as an assessment tool for surgery interns
Method: Mini-CEX is introduced in our Institute recently from march 2018, to assess Interns posted in surgery department. 25 interns from the beginning of their posting in surgery department were introduced to this method. Clinical scenario and time decided by the interns and faculties, mutually convenient to them. The faculty serves as a mentor, and rode model. Formative assessment and immediate feedback given to each intern
Results: Mini clinical exams found to be an effective tool for assessment of residents. Residents can be assessed in regular patient examination, without need for any special set up, by independent faculties there by eliminating any kind of bias. As an assessment tool, mini-clx increase not only knowledge, but also non technical skills like attitude and communication.
Conclusion: Mini clinical exam assessment is very effective as a milestone assessment tool for competency assessment in interns. It is affordable, genuine, and economical especially in a developing country like India. Mini CEX improves clinical skills and leads to reduced medical errors in diagnosis and better patient care.
