Journal Article

Evaluating competency-based medical education: a systematized review of current practices

Alharbi, Nouf Sulaiman

2024

Overview

Background Few published articles provide a comprehensive overview of the available evidence on the topic of evaluating competency-based medical education (CBME) curricula. The purpose of this review is therefore to synthesize the available evidence on the evaluation practices for competency-based curricula employed in schools and programs for undergraduate and postgraduate health professionals. Method This systematized review was conducted following the systematic reviews approach with minor modifications to synthesize the findings of published studies that examined the evaluation of CBME undergraduate and postgraduate programs for health professionals. Results Thirty-eight articles met the inclusion criteria and reported evaluation practices in CBME curricula from various countries and regions worldwide, such as Canada, China, Turkey, and West Africa. 57% of the evaluated programs were at the postgraduate level, and 71% were in the field of medicine. The results revealed variation in reporting evaluation practices, with numerous studies failing to clarify evaluations’ objectives, approaches, tools, and standards as well as how evaluations were reported and communicated. It was noted that questionnaires were the primary tool employed for evaluating programs, often combined with interviews or focus groups. Furthermore, the utilized evaluation standards considered the well-known competencies framework, specialized association guidelines, and accreditation criteria. Conclusion This review calls attention to the importance of ensuring that reports of evaluation experiences include certain essential elements of evaluation to better inform theory and practice.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Academic Achievement / Book publishing / Clinical Competence - standards / Communication Skills / Competence / Competency based education / Competency-based medical education / Curricula / Curriculum / Curriculum development / Curriculum Evaluation / Education / Education, Medical - standards / Education, Medical, Undergraduate - standards / Educational Methods / Educational Resources / Educational Strategies / Evaluation / Evidence / Humans / Medical colleges / Medical Education / Medical personnel / Methods / Outcome Based Education / Physicians / Postgraduate medical education / Problem Based Learning / Program Design / Program Evaluation / Quality Assurance / Quality Control / Reference Materials / Researchers / Students / Systematic review / Teachers / Teaching Methods / Theory of Medicine/Bioethics / Training / Undergraduate medical education