Journal List > J Korean Med Assoc > v.55(2) > 1042514

Park: The impact of introducing the Korean Medical Licensing Examination clinical skills assessment on medical education

Abstract

Evaluation systems can produce curricular change. Korean medical schools face a new responsibility to prepare students for the Korean Medical Licensing Examination (KMLE) clinical skills test (CST) that had been administered since 2009. Several innovations in medical education have resulted, including augmentation of hand-on skills training and a standardized patient program during clerkships. This review explored the results of a survey of 41 medical schools on the impact of the CST on medical education in Korea as of 2011. The majority of respondents reported having an independent skills training laboratory and conducting a clinical skills assessment during the third or fourth year of medical school. The preparatory undergraduate courses were perceived as helpful for self-confidence, communication with real patients, basic clinical skills for work, information sharing with patients, and getting the confidence of patients during internship and residency. However, an extreme policy emphasizing maintenance of a high pass rate has warped the curriculum with simple preparatory courses for the CST. The long-term educational outcomes of the CST of the KMLE must be evaluated again a few years later focused on searching for any relationship with a reduction in medical errors or increase in patient satisfaction in real practice.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
The establishment year of clinical skills training center at 41 medical schools.
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Table 1
The change of educational facilities and curricular contents of medical schools after the introduction of clinical skills test in 2009 at KMLE
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KMLE, Korean Medical Licensing Examination; SP, standardized patient; OSCE, objective structured clinical examination.

Table 2
The change of opportunity for medical students to practice during clerkship rotations after the introduction of CSA in KMLE
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CSA, clinical skills assessment; KMLE, Korean Medical Licensing Examination.

Table 3
The behavioral change of interns or the first year residents at university hospital rated by professors, nurses, and patients after the introduction of clinical skills assessment of KMLE in 2009
jkma-55-116-i003

Rating was done on the 5-point Likert scale (strong agree, 5; agree, 4; neutral, 3; disagree, 2; strongly disagree, 1).

The numbers in parentheses are standard deviation.

KMLE, Korean Medical Licensing Examination; NA, not applicable; IV, intravenous catheterization; EKG, electrocardiogam.

a)Professors' opinion about interns' ability.

b)Professors' opinion about residents' ability.

Table 4
Usefulness of preparatory undergraduate medical education for the CSA of KMLE on the role of interns and residents afterward
jkma-55-116-i004

Numbers in parentheses are standard deviation.

CSA, clinical skills assessment; KMLE, Korean Medical Licensing Examination; OSCE, objective structured clinical examination; CPX, clinical performance examination; CST, clinical skills test.

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by funding from the Research Institute for Healthcare Policy of the Korean Medical Association in 2011.

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