Improving consistency in student evaluation at affiliated family practice centers

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Family Medicine
• Healthcare Administration

Background:

• Jefferson Medical College's Department of Family Medicine has offered a required third-year clerkship since 1974.
• Previous analysis (1976-1981) revealed significant variation in student evaluations among six affiliated training sites.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a plan to improve consistency in medical student evaluations across different family medicine clerkship sites.
• To address disparities in grading standards observed at various training locations.

Main Methods:

• A six-point intervention plan was implemented, including faculty meetings, administrative role assignment, enhanced communication, cross-site faculty attendance, faculty rotation, and financial reimbursement.
• Post-intervention analysis was conducted between 1981 and 1983.

Main Results:

• Following the intervention, five of the six clerkship sites demonstrated consistent student grading.
• One affiliate site continued to use different grading standards, indicating partial success.

Conclusions:

• The implemented intervention was successful in improving evaluation consistency at most (five of six) training sites.
• Enhanced communication and standardized evaluation processes lead to more critical and consistent assessment of medical students.