title: The digital pen as a novel device to facilitate the feedback process.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To improve clinical performance assessment, checklist data should be immediately available to students to offer them detailed feedback and be stored in a database for quality assurance purposes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To introduce the digital pen as clinical performance assessment tool, report examiner satisfaction and explore the utility of generated checklist data for quality assurance purposes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The digital pen technology transmits examiners' handwritten assessments to a database and exports PDF-files to students' mailboxes. Descriptive statistical analysis of examiner satisfaction and the generated checklist data was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The examiners were satisfied with the digital pen. Valuable data were obtained to improve objective structured clinical examination stations and rating criteria, identify training needs for future students and provide examiners with feedback on their rating skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The digital pen technology is a practical device for sending completed checklists to students and providing valuable data for quality assurance purposes.
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. e.a.van.hell@med.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Elisabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: van Hell
authors.forename: Jan B M
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kuks
authors.forename: Martha J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: Jan C C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Borleffs
authors.forename: Janke
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cohen-Schotanus
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000379:methods*; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009426:Netherlands; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires