Test/inform/retest: a useful technique in undergraduate rheumatology teaching

Twenty final year medical students had their ability to interpret rheumatological physical signs tested by 10 multiple choice questions (MCQ) on days 1 and 4 of an educational study. Ten theory questions were used as controls. They were then given an information sheet on the interpretation of physical signs, and repeated the MCQ on day 26. There was a progressive improvement in the theory scores but no improvement in clinical scores until after the information sheet was available. The improvement in clinical scores was significantly greater than the improvement in theory scores (P less than 0.001). We suggest that the use of an information sheet in conjunction with an MCQ paper can improve undergraduates' ability to interpret physical signs when used in the pattern test/inform/retest.