Medical licensing examination preparatory program: designing, implementing, and evaluation for Saudi medical interns

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Professions Education
• Assessment and Evaluation

Background:

• Medical interns require structured preparation for licensing examinations.
• Evaluating preparatory courses is crucial for optimizing medical education outcomes.
• Saudi Arabia's medical licensing examination (MLE) necessitates effective intern training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and diagnostic utility of a structured Medical Licensing Examination (MLE) preparatory course for Saudi medical interns.
• To evaluate intern readiness through knowledge assessment, test-taking skills evaluation, and participant satisfaction.
• To identify areas for improvement in MLE preparation programs.

Main Methods:

• Convergent mixed-methods evaluation design at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.
• Inclusion of the entire cohort of 103 interns in a three-phase preparatory program (planning, implementation, evaluation).
• Data collection via satisfaction questionnaires and a post-course mock examination; analysis using descriptive and thematic methods.

Main Results:

• High participant satisfaction reported by 88.15% of interns (67/76).
• Strong agreement on clear objectives (77.6%) and encouraged interaction (98.7%).
• A mean mock examination score of 43.42% indicates a low level of exam preparedness.

Conclusions:

• The MLE preparation program and mock assessment offer a structured approach to exam familiarization.
• Positive participant perceptions of the learning experience were noted.
• Mock assessments provide valuable diagnostic insights into intern performance and readiness.