Case specificity of performance with simulated patients.

In the part one examination for membership of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (MRNZCGP) patient simulations are used to assess candidates' communication and management skills. In the 1989 examination two different scoring proformas were used to determine if the scoring method contributed significantly to the degree of case specificity that has been observed. The results of this study demonstrate significant differences in performance between cases, while interexaminer rating of performance within cases showed no significant difference. Such results indicate that the between cases differences in measured performance are indicative of real differences and are not reducible by manipulation of the scoring method.