Registrar clinical teaching visits--evaluation of an assessment tool.
BACKGROUND
External clinical teaching (ECT) visits provide structured feedback to general practice registrars concerning their performance during training. This study sought to evaluate the acceptability to general practice registrars of a quantitative, criterion based, formative assessment tool to be administered during ECT visits.


METHODS
We used a standardised, validated consultation feedback proforma and set the 1-5 rating at the FRACGP exam standard. An evaluation questionnaire was given to the registrar and returned separately.


RESULTS
Twenty-six ECT visits were conducted from September 2005 to March 2006. A total of 21 registrar feedback forms were received (response rate 80.1%). Twenty (95%) registrars agreed the form provided useful feedback and was a useful prompt for discussion with their medical educator. Eighty-six percent felt their ratings were fair.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative formative assessment was well received by the majority of general practice registrars. This tool complements other formative assessment tools used in general practitioner training.
Fraser
John
J
Hunter New England Area Rural Training Unit, Tamworth, New South Wales. john.fraser@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
D004501:Education, Medical; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D005194:Family Practice; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales; D010821:Physicians, Family; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012042:Registries; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires