Use of script concordance test to assess pharmaceutical diabetic care: a pilot study in Thailand

Abstract

The script concordance (SC) test is an assessment tool designed to probe whether knowledge of examinees is efficiently organized for clinical actions. The aim of this study was to develop an SC test, and determine whether it could be used to differentiate novices from expert pharmacists in their ability to carry out clinical actions in the area of diabetes mellitus. The SC test was developed and validated according to guidelines proposed previously. Data analysis was performed using a post-hoc test and ANOVA. The test developed had 31 items. Participants included 54 students, six new graduates, and 16 clinical pharmacists. Average scores and standard deviations for students, new graduates and clinical pharmacists were 18.54 (2.90), 20.27(1.42) and 21.09(2.89), respectively. The group differences were significant (p < 0.05). It is concluded that the SC test could accurately differentiate examinees according to levels of experience. It could be a useful tool to measure students’ progress in the area of diabetes mellitus.