A structured questionnaire regarding the use of hands-on tests in the selection of medical residents was applied to the participants of an interactive workshop on this issue, held during the XLIII Brazilian Congress of Medical Education in Natal, in October 2005. The skills considered important in this testing and different models of hands-on tests applied in the selection process of medical residents by some institutions were discussed. A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) was performed for evaluating the models (strengths and weaknesses) and their applicability to the external environment, considering all institutions offering residency programs (opportunities and threats). The medical students considered knowledge and qualification the most important skills while the teachers opted for attitude and ethical behavior. The majorit y realized that the evaluation model would have to be customized to each region of the countr y although this would be in disagreement with the Brazilian curricular guidelines. Among all hands-on models analyzed, the practical test performed with patients and the model using multimedia resources were considered the easiest to be reproduced. One concludes that, although being an excellent method for the selection of medical residents, hands-on testing still shows weak points and calls for a broader discussion.
Internship and Residency; Competency-Based Education; College Admission Test; Evaluation
