Assessment in competency based medical education: What, when and how?

Abstract

Assessment plays a vital role in medical education as it is a tool for detection of quality of student's training. Traditional ways of assessment in medical education are often criticized as they are more subjective in nature, theoretical, more of summative than formative, norm referenced, etc. In order to get away from these limitations, newer reforms in assessment are proposed under competency based medical education. Through search engines 64 research articles with assessment in medical education were searched by Boolean operators. Original articles, review articles, short communications, perspectives, viewpoints, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and editorials related to the assessment in medical education were selected. The studies downloaded through various search engines were evaluated using, STROBE statement for observational studies, CONSORT statement for randomized control studies, PRISMA guidelines for systematic review and Meta-analysis. As CBME is gaining popularity, there is a growing need for continuing faculty development and greater evidence regarding the validity and reliability of the CBME assessment tools, which will allow embedding this strategy in the existing curricula.