Ongoing formative assessment in the training of post graduate students

There is growing evidence that formative assessment is valuable tool in enhancing learning. Integrating formative assessment into post graduate students can be challenging.

Authors aimed in this study to describe an ongoing formative assessment activity in post graduates. We reported resident's performance and satisfaction.

Authors performed an exploratory study over a 3-year period. Twenty five oncology residents participated. The first phase was test preparation by senior oncologists, according to residency curricula then taking the test by a small group of residents with an immediate feedback. The third phase was distribution of a survey each 6 months evaluating resident's perception of the testing.

Twenty two tests were taken by 17 medical oncology, 2 surgical oncology and 4 radiation therapy residents.  At the first test, median scores was 51/100 [30%-72%] with a mean of 53/100. Individual scores of each resident improved with time, becoming 68/100 (t(16)=3.172, p<0.02) with a mean of 64/100 and decrease between student's scores. All the students rated the correction session with a 5. The majority reported that the test reached their expectations (73% rated4-5), and considered it, as having an impact on their daily practice (77% rated4-5). Residents also considered the test as highly difficult (80% rated4-5).

Ongoing formative assessment showed improvement in overall knowledge of residents with high level of satisfaction.