title: Measuring the ability of residents to manage oncologic problems.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0084, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kenady
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Strodel
mesh_terms: 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