Medical Students’ Viewpoints about the Evaluation Methods at Internship Stage (Mashad University 2001)

Introduction. Evaluation of scholastic achievment is an important part of the educational process. Therefore assessment principles, methods and practices must be entirely compatible with education objectives. The previous studies have indicated that at most medical colleges evaluation methods are monotonous. These traditional methods are neither profitable nor appropriate to assess the clinical skills. Consequently this research was conducted to determine how medical students view current clinical evaluation methods at the internship stage in Mashad University in 2001. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data obtained through filling in the questionnaire by 161 interns. Results. The most popular tests included written (58.5%) and oral exams (18%). In 84.5% of cases the final test was held in conference hall and staff room. The patients’ bedside comprised 4.9% . The evaluation of clinical skills through direct observation include 10.6% of the whole cases. On the other hand 91.3% of the interns stipulated that the quality of their performance were not considered at all or regarded to a tiny extent. Furthermore only 5% of interns stressed that a medical doctor’s typical needs were adequately met by current methods. They also deemed the present evaluation as quite inappropriate (22.4%) since their final scores hardly reveal their gained professional competence (46.6%). one third of them emphacised on the dire need to revise and evolve the evaluation methods. Conclusions. Due to a strong and sensible relationship between evaluation and learning, and its important role to promote learning, assessment principles, methods and practices must be thoroughly compatible with educational objectives and should promote learning.