A Comparison of Resident-Completed and Preceptor-Completed Formative Workplace-Based Assessments in a...

In competency-based medical education (CBME), should resident self-assessments be included in the array of evidence upon which summative progress decisions are made? We examined the congruence between self-assessments and preceptor assessments of residents using assessment data collected in a 2-year Canadian family medicine residency program that uses programmatic assessment as part of their approach to CBME.

This was a retrospective observational cohort study using a learning analytics approach. The data source was archived formative workplace-based assessment forms (fieldnotes) stored in an online portfolio by family medicine residents and preceptors. Data came from three academic teaching sites over 3 academic years (2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018), and were analyzed in aggregate using nonparametric tests to evaluate differences in progress levels selected both within and between groups.

In aggregate, first-year residents' self-reported progress was consistent with that indicated by preceptors. Progress level rating on fieldnotes improved over training in both groups. Second-year residents tended to assign themselves higher ratings on self-entered assessments compared with those assigned by preceptors; however, the effect sizes associated with these findings were small.

Although we found differences in the progress level selected between preceptor-entered and resident-entered fieldnotes, small effect sizes suggest these differences may have little practical significance. Reasonable consistency between resident self-assessments and preceptor assessments suggests that benefits of guided self-assessment (eg, support of self-regulated learning, program efficacy monitoring) remain appealing despite potential risks.