Zhen-Jiang Ma1, Li Ma2, Yi-Fan Zhou1, Zheng-Mao Guan3, Hui Ma1. 1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopaedic Implant, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. 2. Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To apply the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (Mini-CEX) to orthopaedics and check its influence on clinical operational abilities and thinking abilities. METHODS: The original Mini-CEX was modified to fit orthopaedics, and another Mini-CEX was established to test interns' clinical operational abilities. A total of 39 interns had to complete two types of Mini-CEX twice, once at the beginning and once at the end of the internship. Clinical supervisors collected all the scores and analysed the differences in the average scores between the first and second assessments. The interns were divided into Qualified teacher group and Excellent teacher group according to their Mini-CEX scores. RESULTS: The results of the Mini-CEX examination of the two groups were compared. Researchers found a significant difference between the two assessments on seven domains (all P < 0.05). The scores at the end were higher than those at the beginning, which indicated that the interns' clinical thinking and operational abilities had improved. The average scores of the interns in the Excellent teacher group were significantly higher than those of interns in the Qualified teacher group. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Mini-CEX is suitable for orthopaedic education and could help cultivate interns' clinical thinking ability.
OBJECTIVE: To apply the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (Mini-CEX) to orthopaedics and check its influence on clinical operational abilities and thinking abilities. METHODS: The original Mini-CEX was modified to fit orthopaedics, and another Mini-CEX was established to test interns' clinical operational abilities. A total of 39 interns had to complete two types of Mini-CEX twice, once at the beginning and once at the end of the internship. Clinical supervisors collected all the scores and analysed the differences in the average scores between the first and second assessments. The interns were divided into Qualified teacher group and Excellent teacher group according to their Mini-CEX scores. RESULTS: The results of the Mini-CEX examination of the two groups were compared. Researchers found a significant difference between the two assessments on seven domains (all P < 0.05). The scores at the end were higher than those at the beginning, which indicated that the interns' clinical thinking and operational abilities had improved. The average scores of the interns in the Excellent teacher group were significantly higher than those of interns in the Qualified teacher group. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Mini-CEX is suitable for orthopaedic education and could help cultivate interns' clinical thinking ability.