Presentation Description
Kellie Charles1
Paul Chin2, Bridin Murnion3, Treasure McGuire4, Sarah Hilmer5,6, Jennifer Martin7, David Reith2, David Joyce8, Catherine Lucas9, Nicholas Holford10, Richard Day11, Jennifer Schneider7, Matthew Doogue12, Catherine Han10, Sarah Herd13, Claire Harrison14 and Deborah O'Mara15
1 ANZAHPE
2 University of Otago
3 Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District + University of Sydney 4 Bond University
5 Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney
6 Royal North Shore Hospital
7 University of Newcastle
8 Univerisity of Western Australia
9 Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital.
10 University of Auckland
11 University of NSW + St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst
12 Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury, New Zealand
13 University of Tasmania
14 Monash University
15 University of Sydney Medical School/ AMEE/ ANZAHPE
Paul Chin2, Bridin Murnion3, Treasure McGuire4, Sarah Hilmer5,6, Jennifer Martin7, David Reith2, David Joyce8, Catherine Lucas9, Nicholas Holford10, Richard Day11, Jennifer Schneider7, Matthew Doogue12, Catherine Han10, Sarah Herd13, Claire Harrison14 and Deborah O'Mara15
1 ANZAHPE
2 University of Otago
3 Royal North Shore Hospital, Northern Sydney Local Health District + University of Sydney 4 Bond University
5 Northern Clinical School, University of Sydney
6 Royal North Shore Hospital
7 University of Newcastle
8 Univerisity of Western Australia
9 Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital.
10 University of Auckland
11 University of NSW + St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst
12 Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Canterbury District Health Board, Canterbury, New Zealand
13 University of Tasmania
14 Monash University
15 University of Sydney Medical School/ AMEE/ ANZAHPE
Background:
Undergraduate medical students globally do not feel confident in their prescribing skills at the point of transition from medical school to clinical practice. Currently assessment of prescribing skills across medical schools in Australia and NZ remains inconsistently assessed.
Undergraduate medical students globally do not feel confident in their prescribing skills at the point of transition from medical school to clinical practice. Currently assessment of prescribing skills across medical schools in Australia and NZ remains inconsistently assessed.
Summary of work:
The UK Prescribing Safety Assessment was modified for use in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) as the Prescribing Skills Assessment (PSA). We investigated the implementation, student performance and acceptability of the ANZ PSA for final-year medical students (2). This study used a mixed-method approach involving student data (n = 6440) for 2017–2019. Data were also aggregated by medical school and included student evaluation survey results. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and multivariate analyses. The pass rate was established by a modified Angoff method. Thematic analyses of open-ended survey comments were conducted.
The UK Prescribing Safety Assessment was modified for use in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) as the Prescribing Skills Assessment (PSA). We investigated the implementation, student performance and acceptability of the ANZ PSA for final-year medical students (2). This study used a mixed-method approach involving student data (n = 6440) for 2017–2019. Data were also aggregated by medical school and included student evaluation survey results. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and multivariate analyses. The pass rate was established by a modified Angoff method. Thematic analyses of open-ended survey comments were conducted.
Results:
The average pass rate was slightly higher in 2017 (89%) which used a different examination to 2018 (85%) and 2019 (86%). Little difference was identified between schools for the PSA overall performance or domain sub-scores. Most students provided positive feedback about the PSA regarding the interface and clarity of questions, but an average of 35% reported insufficient time for completion. Further, 70% on average felt unprepared by their school curricula for the PSA, which is in part explained by the low prescribing experience; 69% reported completing ≤10 prescriptions during training.
The average pass rate was slightly higher in 2017 (89%) which used a different examination to 2018 (85%) and 2019 (86%). Little difference was identified between schools for the PSA overall performance or domain sub-scores. Most students provided positive feedback about the PSA regarding the interface and clarity of questions, but an average of 35% reported insufficient time for completion. Further, 70% on average felt unprepared by their school curricula for the PSA, which is in part explained by the low prescribing experience; 69% reported completing ≤10 prescriptions during training.
Conclusions:
The ANZ PSA was associated with high pass rates and acceptability, although student preparedness was highlighted as a concern for further investigation.
The ANZ PSA was associated with high pass rates and acceptability, although student preparedness was highlighted as a concern for further investigation.
Takeaway points.
- The PSA is currently used by half of all medical schools (and growing) and >5000 students participating in 2021.
- This study demonstrates the collaborative process for regionalising an accepted assessment method for prescribing skill competence.
- This study highlights student recommendations for developing educational strategies to prepare students more completely for prescribing.
References (maximum three)
- Simon R. J. Maxwell, Jamie J. Coleman, Lynne Bollington, Celia Taylor, David J. Webb (2017) Prescribing Safety Assessment 2016: Delivery of a national prescribing assessment to 7343 UK final-year medical students British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 83 (10): 2249 – 2258 https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.13319
- Paul K. L. Chin, Kellie Charles et al (2023): Evaluation of the Prescribing Skills Assessment implementation, performance and medical student experience in Australia and New Zealand. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology (in press, 05 June 2023), https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.15814