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Indian Pediatr 2013;50: 346-347

Workplace Based Assessments: A Complement to the Quarter Model


Gaurav Atreja

Senior Specialty Registrar, Neonatal Medicine, St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust,
Blackshaw Road, Tooting, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom.
Email: [email protected]



After reading the article titled, "The Quarter Model: a proposed approach for in-training assessment of undergraduate students in Indian medical schools" [1], I would like to add the element of workplace based assessments (WBAs) as a complement to this model.

It is beyond doubt that the traditional way of assessing successful postgraduate pediatrics training is no more considered a valid process in many institutes in India [2,3]. Having done a postgraduate degree in pediatrics myself from a prestigious institute in India, I personally feel there is desperate need for a more robust, comprehensive and standard way of assessment. I am finishing my training in United Kingdom now, where the assessment process fulfils many of the criteria you have outlined in your article. I couldn’t agree more that the assessments should be multi-sourced i.e. from different members of the team with appropriate weightage given to each assessor.

Although the concept of the quarter model is fantastic, it lacks the objective component at many levels. This is why, I would like to introduce the concept of Workplace based assessments (WBAs) which could be used in addition to the model proposed by you. These are a set of tools which can be combined with trainees daily activities and heavily rely on constructive feedback in a more objective manner. According to Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health [4], "WBAs connect teaching, learning and assessment in the teaching cycle. They provide formative feedback in a constructive environment to help trainees develop and progress through their training programme by helping them set their development plan and take ownership of their learning objectives giving the resources to improve self-evaluation, self-assessment, reflection and goal setting skills. Workplace based assessments are designed to show progress, so should be used to reveal areas that need to be worked on, so should be spread throughout the year and through all posts."

Each trainee will have an online account with a service called ASSET (www.asset.rcpch.ac.uk) and assessments must be completed online using this facility. Trainees can view their completed online assessments and trainers are able to see the progress of their trainees online. Presently, the following WBAs are being used in the UK based on national curriculum.

1. Pediatric Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (ePaed Mini-CeX)

2. Pediatric Case Based Discussion (ePaedCbD)

3. Directly Observed Procedural Skills (DOPS)

4. Sheffield Assessment Instrument for Letters (SAIL)

5. Pediatric Multisource Feedback (ePaedMSF)

A certain number of satisfactory WBAs in each category need to be completed each year. These, along with other training issues, are reviewed at the end of each year by an independent panel in the presence of trainee. This process makes sure that training needs are identified mutually and an action plan is set. In addition to this, trainees will formally meet their educational supervisors on a quarterly basis to discuss the progress and any other issues.

I would like to add here that this process is complemented by formal exams and regular appraisals. I propose that this method can be combined with the quarter model to be used as an objective assessment although will need to be modified based on the present requirements in India.

References

1. Singh T, Anshu, Modi J. The Quarter Model: A proposed approach for in-training assessment of undergraduate students in Indian medical schools. Indian Pediatr. 2012;49:871-6.

2. Singh T, Anshu. Internal assessment revisited. Natl Med J India. 2009;22:82-4.

3. Gitanjali B. Academic dishonesty in Indian medical colleges. J Postgrad Med. 2004;50:281-4.

4. Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, London. Available from: URL: http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/training-examinations-professional-development/examinations/assessment-tools/assessment-tools.

 

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