Enhancing Dermatology Residents' Self-Assessment Accuracy Through Training: An Interventional Study Using the...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Dermatology
• Clinical Skills Assessment

Background:

• Self-assessment is crucial for developing and maintaining clinical skills.
• Formative assessment methods, like the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX), are vital for medical training.
• Accurate self-assessment is essential for professional development in medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) on dermatology residents' self-assessment accuracy.
• To determine if the mini-CEX improves overall clinical performance in dermatology residents.
• To assess the effect of structured feedback on residents' self-evaluation skills.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-eight dermatology residents participated in a study from 2021-2022.
• Residents underwent initial assessment by two independent faculty members using the mini-CEX, followed by self-evaluation.
• Post-intervention, residents were reassessed after receiving feedback and self-assessment training.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in residents' interview skills, examination abilities, and overall domain scores post-intervention (p < 0.05).
• Self-assessment scores significantly increased across all seven categories of the mini-CEX test (p < 0.05).
• A stronger correlation between faculty and resident ratings indicated improved alignment in performance evaluation after the intervention.

Conclusions:

• Training in self-assessment and feedback significantly enhances dermatology residents' self-evaluation accuracy.
• The mini-CEX and structured feedback promote clinical insight and lifelong learning in residency programs.
• Incorporating self-evaluation tools like the mini-CEX is vital for professional development across medical specialties.