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.