title: Long-term effect of a course on in-training assessment in postgraduate specialist education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In-training assessment has become an important part of clinical teachers' responsibilities. One way to ensure that clinical teachers are qualified for this role is setting up a course. A "Teach the teachers" course focusing on in-training assessment was designed for anaesthesiologists in Denmark.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate short and longer term effects of a course on in-training assessment for clinical teachers in Anaesthesiology.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one anaesthesiologists attended a 2-day interactive course about in-training assessment. Effects of the course on knowledge were assessed using identical pre- and post- tests. Longer- term effects were measured six months after the course using the same test. Self-reported use of in-training assessment methods was evaluated using supplemental questions in the follow-up test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant increases in knowledge about in-training assessment immediately following the course (effect size, Cohens d = 1, 5). The knowledge was retained six months later. Knowledge about assessment by clinical structured observation and by written assignments showed further increases in the follow-up period. Participants used the various assessment methods in their daily practice during the six-month study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A focused "Teach the teachers" course during the implementation phase of a new assessment programme increased participants' knowledge about in-training assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Quality and Education, Regional Hospital, Viborg. mallingmail@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malling
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bested
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skjelsager
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Ostergaard
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ringsted
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D003718:Denmark; D004501:Education, Medical; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013038:Specialization; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods