TY - JOUR T1 - Internal medicine residents' perceptions of the Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise. AU - Malhotra,Samir, AU - Hatala,Rose, AU - Courneya,Carol-Ann, PY - 2008/6/24/pubmed PY - 2008/8/15/medline PY - 2008/6/24/entrez SP - 414 EP - 9 JF - Medical teacher JO - Med Teach VL - 30 IS - 4 N2 - BACKGROUND: The mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) is a 30 minute observed clinical encounter which allows assessment of a resident's clinical competence with feedback on their performance. AIMS: To assess residents' perceptions of the mini-CEX using qualitative methods. METHODS: After introducing the mini-CEX into the University of British Columbia's Internal Medicine Residency Program, a one hour semi-structured focus group with voluntary first and second year residents was undertaken. The focus groups were conducted by an independent moderator, audio-taped, and transcribed verbatim. Using a phenomenological approach, the comments made by the focus group participants were read independently by the three authors and organized into major themes. RESULTS: The major themes included Education, Assessment and Exam Preparation. Residents described a conflict between the mini-CEX's role as a method of assessment and its utility as an educational tool. During initial mini-CEX encounters, they perceived the assessment format as anxiety-provoking. Over time, they felt that the mini-CEX provided insight into their clinical competence. Participants believed that the mini-CEX experience would benefit them in preparation and successful completion of their national specialty exam. CONCLUSIONS: Residents' perceptions of the mini-CEX reflected a tension between the tool's dual roles of assessment and education. SN - 1466-187X UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/18569664/Internal_medicine_residents'_perceptions_of_the_Mini_Clinical_Evaluation_Exercise_ L2 - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01421590801946962 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -