Development and validation of a geriatrics knowledge test for primary care residents

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Geriatric Medicine
• Primary Care Training

Background:

• Assessing geriatric knowledge is crucial for primary care residents.
• Existing tools may not adequately measure this specific competency.
• A validated instrument is needed to track knowledge acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and preliminarily validate a concise instrument.
• To measure the geriatrics knowledge of primary care residents.
• To provide a reliable tool for educational assessment.

Main Methods:

• Developed a 23-item test using the Geriatrics Review Syllabus.
• Administered the test to internal medicine and family practice residents, fellows, and faculty.
• Analyzed reliability using Cronbach's alpha and assessed validity (content, known groups).

Main Results:

• The 23-item test showed acceptable reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.66).
• Preliminary validity was supported through content and known-groups analyses.
• The instrument is a viable short test for geriatrics knowledge.

Conclusions:

• The developed instrument is a reliable and valid tool for assessing geriatrics knowledge.
• Further research should explore predictive validity and sensitivity to knowledge changes.
• This test can aid in evaluating primary care resident education in geriatrics.