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Rheumatology Advance Access published online on November 15, 2005
Rheumatology, doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kei185
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© The Author 2005. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org
Received May 17, 2005
Accepted October 5, 2005

Original article

Competence-based assessment of specialist registrars: evaluation of a new assessment of out-patient consultations

C. Dowson 1 *, A. Hassell 1, and on behalf of the members of the Training Sub-committee of the West Midlands Rheumatology Services and Training Committee (WMRSTC)

1 Staffordshire Rheumatology Centre, Haywood Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent and West Midlands Deanery, Birmingham Research Park, Birmingham, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
C. Dowson, E-mail: Caitlyn.Dowson{at}uhns.nhs.uk


  Abstract

Objective. To implement and evaluate formal assessment of the performance of West Midlands rheumatology specialist registrars (SpRs) in conducting out-patient consultations.

Methods. SpRs conducted a full out-patient clinic while being observed by one or two consultants who scored each SpR's performance on a structured pro forma. The assessment was conducted within the examining consultant's hospital trust (in which the SpR was not working). The process was evaluated by trainees and trainers by means of a questionnaire.

Results. Sixteen SpRs were assessed. No trainee failed to reach the required standard. Six trainees scored ‘borderline’ for management planning and four had a borderline performance recorded for examination skills. Overall the process was valued by trainers and trainees, although consensus was that it would be more practicable for the trainee to be examined within the hospital in which they were working by a visiting consultant examiner. It was also felt that a broader range of scoring options would be preferable.

Conclusion. Formal assessment, by direct observation, of the skills of SpRs in conducting an out-patient clinic is practicable and offers information which is useful to trainer and trainee. A culture of direct observation of performance can be achieved within the context of rheumatology higher medical training.

Keywords: Competence; Assessment; Specialist registrar; Out-patient; Consultation.
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