W40 – Key Features of Key Features’ Questions: Assessing Clinical Decision Making in Clerkship Written Assessments

W40 – Key Features of Key Features’ Questions: Assessing Clinical Decision Making in Clerkship Written Assessments

Le samedi 29 octobre
10:45 – 11:45 (1 hr)
Salle de réunion : Linden (Mezzanine)
Kien Dang*, MD, FRCPC; Carla Garcia, MD, FRCPC; Chloe Leon, MD, FRCPC; Finola D’Souza, MD; Susanna Talarico, MD, FRCPC; Katina Tzanetos, MD, FRCPC

Rôles CanMEDS :

  1. Érudit
  2. Leader

À la conclusion de cette activité, les participants seront en mesure de : 1) Discuss the roles of various question types in the assessment of learners; 2) Describe the structure of clinical decision-making questions (CDMs); and 3) Generate one set of « key features » on which to base a CDM question.

Assessments are an integral part of measuring the competencies of our undergraduate trainees. Single best answer multiple choice questions (MCQs), sequential item sets, short answer questions (SAQs), and objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are assessment tools used in many settings, including high stakes exams such as the Medical Council of Canada licensing exams, the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada specialty exam at the postgraduate level. However, single best answer questions can cue candidates to correct answers and have challenges with replicating clinical decision–making scenarios; SAQs are labour intensive to grade and vulnerable to challenges with interrater reliability; and OSCEs are resource intensive. Clinical decision making (CDM), or key features questions, are based on a clinical scenario that assesses students’ ability to prioritize and apply key aspects of clinical assessment and management that pertain to the situation. Scoring is based solely on “key features.” CDM questions also appear on the Medical Council of Canada licensing exam.

In this interactive workshop, participants will take a short quiz with CDM questions and discuss common question types in the assessment of learners. Participants will learn about the « key features » approach to assessment and the structure and scoring of CDM questions. In small groups, participants will generate a set of key features and receive feedback. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss how CDM questions can be applicable in their own setting.

Références :

  1. Hrynchak P, Takahashi SG, Nayer M. Key-feature questions for assessment of clinical reasoning: a literature review. Med Educ 2014;48:870–83.
  2. Farmer EA, Page G. A practical guide to assessing clinical decision-making skills using the key features approach. Med Educ 2005;39:1188–94.