title: Examining Critical Thinking Skills in Family Medicine Residents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to determine the relationship between critical thinking skills and objective measures of academic success in a family medicine residency program.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational cohort study was set in a large Canadian family medicine residency program. Intervention was the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST), administered at three points in residency: upon entry, at mid-point, and at graduation. Results from the CCTST, Canadian Residency Matching Service file, and interview scores were compared to other measures of academic performance (Medical Colleges Admission Test [MCAT] and College of Family Physicians of Canada [CCFP] certification examination results).
  
  
  RESULTS
  For participants (n=60), significant positive correlations were found between critical thinking skills and performance on tests of knowledge. For the MCAT, CCTST scores correlated positively with full scores (n=24, r=0.57) as well as with each section score (verbal reasoning: r=0.59; physical sciences: r=0.64; biological sciences: r=0.54). For CCFP examination, CCTST correlated reliably with both sections (n=49, orals: r=0.34; short answer: r=0.47). Additionally, CCTST was a better predictor of performance on the CCFP exam than was the interview score at selection into the residency program (Fisher's r-to-z test, z=2.25).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Success on a critical thinking skills exam was found to predict success on family medicine certification examinations. Given that critical thinking skills appear to be stable throughout residency training, including an assessment of critical thinking in the selection process may help identify applicants more likely to be successful on final certification exam.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Alberta.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Westbury
authors.forename: Hoan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Linh Banh
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Loeffler
authors.forename: G Michael
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013850:Thinking