title: Multiple mini-interview predictive validity for performance on a pharmacy licensing examination.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Predictive validity studies on the use of the multiple mini-interview (MMI) have been primarily in medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to determine the predictive validity of the MMI for performance within a pharmacy programme and on the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) Qualifying Examination for licensure, and to compare the predictive validity of the MMI with that of pre-pharmacy grade point average (GPA) and Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) score.
  
  
  METHODS
  Admissions data for 223 graduates of the pharmacy programme at the University of Toronto were matched to programme and licensure outcome measures. Multiple linear regression assessed the predictive ability of the MMI, pre-pharmacy GPA, PCAT and covariates for performance in final-year experiential rotations, cumulative GPA (cGPA) and PEBC-MCQ (multiple-choice question examination) and PEBC-OSCE (objective structured clinical examination) overall and subcomponent scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PCAT, pre-pharmacy GPA and age significantly predicted the PEBC-MCQ overall score. The MMI was the only significant predictor of overall score on the PEBC-OSCE (β = 0.17, p = 0.02); it also predicted communication and performance subscores. Scores on the PCAT and female gender predicted the communication subscore. Pre-pharmacy GPA, age and female gender significantly predicted cGPA. The MMI was the only significant predictor of institutional/ambulatory rotation score (β = 0.26, p = 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MMI, designed to measure non-academic attributes including communication, motivation and problem-solving skills, was the only admissions tool with significant predictive validity for performance on the PEBC-OSCE national pharmacy certification examination and in an institutional/ambulatory rotation. These findings, from a single cohort of undergraduates, provide the first report of the predictive validity of the MMI for performance on pharmacy licensure examinations and thereby strengthen the evidence for its use in health professions selection. Prior university academic performance significantly predicted cGPA and performance on the PEBC-MCQ. Performance on the PCAT also predicted PEBC-MCQ results.
authors.affiliation: Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Linda D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: MacKeigan
authors.affiliation: Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Biostatistics Research Unit, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mitsakakis
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pugsley
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003099:College Admission Test; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*