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Preparations for October Pilot Examination
March - October 2003

 

Following the identification of the Global Minimum Essential Requirements, the international panel of experts in assessment chose three tools for assessment of competencies envisaged in the "GMER" document: a multiple choice examination (MCQ), a multi-station objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), and a longitudinal faculty observation of students in clinical settings. The "GMER" items were then mapped onto these assessment tools, as described elsewhere (Medical Teacher, 2003). The examination forms were then reviewed by the IIME Core Committee.

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During the "IIME Workshop on the Development of Assessment Tools" in February 2003 in Chengdu, the content of the examination was nearly finalized, and the timelines for preparation of the pilot tests and faculty training programs were established. It was agreed that of the sixty (60) "GMER" competencies, 36 would be assessed using a 150-item multiple-choice examination (MCQ), 15 would be assessed using a 15-station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and 17 would be assessed using a 19-item faculty observation form. All examination materials were translated from English into Mandarin.

As part of the preparation process of assessment tools, the educational leaders at each of the eight Chinese medical schools became very familiar with three internationally accepted methods of assessment and were thus capable of administering the "GMER" assessment.

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In spite of the SARS epidemic, the preparation for the October 2003 examination progressed according to the accepted plan and in all schools, the training of the clinical staff in how to use the structured observations ratings was finished by end of June 2003.

In July, the training activities in the use of OSCEs and SP's training were organized at China Medical University in Shenyang and Sichuan University/West China University of Medical Sciences in Chengdu, with financial support from the Ministry of Education. The OSCE stations in most schools were ready by end of September and SP training progressed according to plan.

The Structured Faculty Observations were performed in all medical schools over a 3-month period from July to October 2003 by 2-6 observers (faculty, nurses) evaluating each student.
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At the beginning of October, Drs. Schwarz and Wojtczak visited all eight participating medical schools (four schools each) for a pre-exam briefing. They met with University leaders, faculty members and students to present details of the October examination.

Prior to the exam, a meeting of CMB/IIME Observers was convened on October 14th in Beijing to review the preparations related to the examination. They were experts who had been involved in the "GMER" project before. Every observer received written instructions specifying detailed obligations during the MCQ and OSCE examinations.

  Institute for International Medical Education.
Unauthorized reproduction strictly prohibited.