PURPOSE. To describe the main steps in the implementation of such assessment, as well as to present the measures taken in order to overcome the difficulties that have been found. METHODS. The proposed two-step assessment consists of a test of cognitive aspects based on Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and practical exams of clinical skills in each of 5 terminal areas. Students enrolled as volunteer for either step or both. The examinations were developed and carried out by faculty members nominated by the involved Departments under the supervision of an institutional work group. The rates of student enrollment for the summative assessment has been recorded and the responses of both students and faculty members were evaluated by means of specific questionnaires. RESULTS. In the first two years, adhesion of students to the MCQ test was consistently high, but volunteering to the practical exams was persistently low. Moreover, there was a sharp decrease in faculty involvement, from the first to the second year. To overcome these difficulties, a number of measures were implemented aiming at increasing student adhesion and faculty involvement, as well as to improve assessment methods. As a consequence, a remarkable increase in both student adhesion and faculty involvement was recorded. CONCLUSION. The measures taken resulted in sharp increases in both acceptance of the proposed assessment and the quality of the examination methods, which have allowed a more reliable characterization of the strenghts and weaknesses of the local curriculum.
Assessment, performance-based; Assessment of students; Assessment, clinical skills; Curriculum evaluation; Undergraduate studies; Medical Education
