Towards fit for purpose final assessment of clinical skills in medical graduates

Abstract

Background: The assessment of broader competencies of skills and attributes beyond knowledge are expected graduate outcomes in a medical degree. Assessment must provide explicit evidence of student learning. The quality and rigour of procedural skills assessment varies both between and within Medical Schools. This research project aims to identify the most reliable and valid tools and methods of assessing levels of technical skill ability at the end of a primary medical degree. The current best assessment tools and methods are identified. Novel approaches to the validation of assessment tools and integrative assessment formats are explored. The ultimate goal is to promote an evidence base to undergraduate procedural skills assessment, culminating in national standardisation.