Validating a Subject Assessment Tool at a Brazilian Medical School

ABSTRACT

Aim  The study aims to evaluate a questionnaire on the subjects taught at the Faculty of Medicine of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), in terms of the psychometric properties of validity and reliability.

Methods  A cross-sectional, exploratory, and contemporary study was conducted using qualitative and quantitative evaluation. The subjects were evaluated by the students in an anonymous, optional and individual fashion during a large group class. The questionnaires were answered by PUCRS academics enrolled on the I-VIII semesters in 2011, who agreed to perform the evaluation immediately after completing the subject and who were registered in the final minutes for the units of the 22 subjects available.

Results  1,205 responses were studied out of a possible 1,606 students enrolled on the course. The convergent validation demonstrated a strong correlation between the total score for satisfaction and the quantitative fields. Reliability demonstrated Cronbach alpha from the total score of 0.753.

Conclusion  The study showed that the questionnaire for subject evaluation is valid and reliable.

Validation; Reliability; Convergent Validation; Medical Education; Medical Curriculum; Evaluation; Teaching Evaluation