title: [Student assessments in palliative medicine as the cross-disciplinary subject 13: Survey of 34 medical faculties in Germany].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2009 palliative medicine was integrated into the undergraduate curriculum as cross-disciplinary subject 13 and is now part of mandatory education in German medical faculties (MF). Surveys across German MFs have shown an inhomogeneous development of this cross-disciplinary subject. The aim of this study was to assess the current state and the needs in terms of assessments in the cross-disciplinary subject 13 at German MFs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Palliative care coordinators at German MFs were surveyed by using a standardized telephone interview. Closed-ended questions were analyzed by descriptive analysis and open-ended questions by content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 34 out of 36 MFs participated. Multiple choice tests were the major form of assessment (94.1%) and 9 MFs planned to implement another form of assessment, mainly an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) station (55.5%). The majority of the MFs (91.2%) had no blueprint to develop assessments but conducted a review (78.8%) afterwards. A successful implementation of the assessment was mostly achieved when the concept of the assessment was felt to be suitable. The lack of human resources was found to be the most relevant obstacle for the implementation of a practical assessment format.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The major form of assessment in palliative care is still a written examination, especially multiple choice tests. This format is considered to be of limited value for assessing communicative competencies and attitudes in palliative medical care. Further steps should include the development of a competence-based assessment that is also feasible for smaller MFs with limited resources.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin und Psychosomatik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seidemann
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemeine Innere Medizin und Psychosomatik, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jünger
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Palliativmedizin, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Göttingen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alt-Epping
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Neurologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Göttingen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ilse
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Fakultät, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Isermeyer
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Palliativmedizin, Uniklinik Köln, Köln, Deutschland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.affiliation: Algesiologikum - Zentren für Schmerzmedizin, München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiessl
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003479:Curriculum; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005858:Germany; D006284:Health Plan Implementation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D000070516:Intersectoral Collaboration; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D065126:Palliative Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Competency-based education; Curriculum; Education, medical, undergraduate; Educational measurement; Palliative medicine