Instruments used in medical education for the assessment of competence and mentioned in the article (in alphabetical order)
| Abbreviation | Full name | Description | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| CbD | Case-based discussion | CbD involves a comprehensive review of clinical case(s) between the trainee and an assessor. | Workplace based |
| DOPS | Direct observation of practical skills | DOPS requires direct observation of the trainee during a procedure, followed by a discussion and record assessing their current skill level. The number of DOPS required from a trainee varies depending on number of skills required for learning. | Workplace based |
| MCQ | Written multiple-choice questionnaire | MCQ is an assessment method in which trainees are asked to select the best answer(s) from the choices offered as a list. The list includes the correct answer and several plausible but incorrect answers (distractors). | Simulation based |
| Mini-ACE | Mini assessed clinical encounter | The mini-ACE has been developed from the mini-CEX and involves a single assessor observing the trainee (usually in an early career stage) while they conduct a patient assessment in any of a variety of settings. It enables a structured observation of an aspect of clinical practice. | Workplace based |
| Mini-CEX | Mini-clinical evaluation exercise | The mini-CEX was derived from the long case assessment and is a 10–20 min comprehensive assessment of the trainee–patient interaction by direct observation. | Workplace based |
| MSF | Multisource feedback | MSF is the is a comprehensive assessment of the trainee by different evaluators (eg, peers, patients, nurses, supervisors) using a questionnaire. It is most commonly used to evaluate professional behaviours. | Workplace based |
| OSCE | Objective structured clinical examinations | An OSCE usually comprises a circuit of short (5–15 min) stations, in which each trainee is examined on a one-to-one basis with one or more objective examiner(s) and either real or simulated patients (actors or electronic patient simulators). Trainees complete all the stations in a circuit. | Simulation based |