title: Computer Based Assessment (CBA): Perception of residents at Dow University of Health Sciences.
abstract: Background and objective : During the past few years, Computer-based assessment (CBA) has gained popularkity as a testing modality. This assessment offers several advantages over paper based assessment (PBA) testing. The objective of this study was to find out residents' perception of this method of assessment. Methods : The post graduate residents of Dow University of Health Sciences in the field of Surgery, Medicine, Gynecology and Obstetrics experienced their first formative Computer-based assessment (CBA) in year 2013.Immediately after formative CBA, an anonymous paper based questionnaire was distributed amongst the residents and response was sought for their self-perceived computer usage competence before starting residency, perceptions regarding CBA method and to determine their preference for PBA or CBA in future assessment preferences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 173 residents completed the questionnaire. More than half of residents, 56.1% had no prior experience of CBA. Three fourth, 76.4% of the residents were less than confident before sitting in CBA, while after completing CBA, 64.8% were either confident or extremely confident for CBA. Most common problem encountered by students was logging in 28.9%. More students (53.2%) believed that paper assessment took longer to complete than CBA. Majority of the students (61.8%) rated CBA as better than PBA despite experiencing it for the first time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resident's perception for CBA is good and they recommend its use in future assessment as well. However, to take maximal advantage of this technology, faculty should be trained to develop questions not only with text and pictures but with audio and video support.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Masood Jawaid, MCPS, MRCS, FCPS, Assistant Professor Surgery, Incharge e-Learning at Dow University of Health Sciences, Dow University Hospital and Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Masood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jawaid
authors.affiliation: Prof. Foad Ali Moosa, FRCS, Professor of Surgery, Dow University Hospital and Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Foad Ali
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Moosa
authors.affiliation: Dr. Farhat Jaleel, FCPS, Associate Professor of Surgery, Dow University Hospital and Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jaleel
authors.affiliation: Prof. Junaid Ashraf, FRCS, Chairman Postgraduate Committee, Principal and Professor of Neurosurgery, Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Junaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ashraf
keywords: Computer based assessment; Formative assessment; e-assessment
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