Progress test as an assessment for learning approach in an Infectious Diseases Residency Program: a case study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Assessment in Medical Training

Background:

• Progress Testing (PT) is a valuable tool for assessing cognitive knowledge and clinical reasoning in medical education.
• While widely used in medical schools, PT has limited application in assessing medical residents in Brazil.
• This study addresses the need for improved resident assessment methods in Brazil.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot the implementation of a Progress Test (PT) in an Infectious Diseases residency program in Brazil.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of PT in assessing resident performance over two years.
• To gauge resident and preceptor perceptions of the PT experience.

Main Methods:

• Four serial multiple-choice Progress Tests (40 items each) were administered to first, second, and third-year residents over two years.
• Preceptors received training in item writing best practices.
• Items were reviewed by a panel of experts before inclusion in the item bank, and participants completed a perception survey.

Main Results:

• Third-year residents consistently achieved higher scores across all exam administrations.
• Participants reported high satisfaction with the Progress Test, valuing the learning opportunity and feedback provided.
• The pilot demonstrated PT's potential to enhance resident assessment and guide program improvement.

Conclusions:

• Progress Testing (PT) can significantly improve the assessment of medical residents throughout their training.
• Resident performance data derived from PT can inform and enhance residency program quality.
• The successful pilot suggests broader applicability of PT in Brazilian residency programs.