A remedial intervention linked to a formative assessment is effective in terms of improving student performance in subsequent degree examinations.
BACKGROUND
Intervention may help weaker medical students improve their performance. However, the effectiveness of remedial intervention is inconclusive due to small sample sizes in previous studies. We asked: is remedial intervention linked to a formative assessment effective in terms of improving student performance in subsequent degree examinations?


METHODS
This was a retrospective, observational study of anonymous databases of student assessment outcomes. Data were analysed for students due to graduate in the years 2005-2009 (n = 909). Exam performance was compared for students who received remediation versus those who did not. The main outcome measure was summative degree examination marks.


RESULTS
After adjusting for cohort, gender, overseas versus home funding, previous degree and previous performance in the corresponding baseline third year summative exam, students receiving a remedial intervention (after poor performance on a formative objective structured clinical examination and written exams mid-fourth year) were significantly more likely to obtain an improved mark on end-of-fourth year summative written (p = 0.005) and OSCE (p = 0.001) exams compared to those students who did not receive remediation.


CONCLUSIONS
A remedial intervention linked to poor assessment performance predicted improved performance in later examination. There is a need for prospective studies in order to identify the effective components of remedial interventions.
Cleland
Jennifer
J
University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2AY, UK. jen.cleland@abdn.ac.uk
Mackenzie
R K
RK
Ross
S
S
Sinclair
H K
HK
Lee
A J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D012073:Remedial Teaching / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013337:Students, Medical; D055815:Young Adult