Measuring the ability of residents to manage oncologic problems.
BACKGROUND
An OSCE was used to measure the ability of a cohort of residents to manage oncologic problems.


METHODS
Nine oncologic clinical problems were presented to 56 surgical residents. Each problem contained a 5-minute data-gathering period (DGP) and a 5-minute data-interpretation period (DIP). A performance score was determined for each resident for each problem. Reliability was estimated by coefficient alpha; validity, by the construct of experience. Wilks's lambda criterion was used to determine whether training level could be identified by OSCE performance.


RESULTS
The DGP reliability was 0.80; the DIP, 0.49. Senior residents performed significantly better than junior residents (P = 0.0001), who performed significantly better than interns (P = 0.0009). Of the residents, 62% were competent on the DGP, but only 21% on the DIP. Important deficits in knowledge and clinical skills were apparent at all levels of training.


CONCLUSIONS
The education and evaluation of residents in oncology need improvement.
Sloan
D A
DA
Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0084, USA.
Donnelly
M B
MB
Schwartz
R W
RW
McGrath
P C
PC
Kenady
D E
DE
Wood
D P
DP
Strodel
W E
WE
D002983:Clinical Competence; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results