PERCEPTION OF FINAL YEAR MEDICAL STUDENTS ABOUT CASE SCENARIO BASED SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Purpose: Traditionally all final year medical student summative assessments have been conducted with real patients. COVID 19 pandemic has led to closing of all medical schools. Online case-based learning continued. As exams are getting postponed indefinitely, case scenario based summative assessment was conducted. Methods: All final year undergraduate medical students who appeared for the university summative assessment practical examination of Paediatrics conducted during the pandemic were eligible. Validated and pre piloted questionnaire was sent through Google forms and the perspectives were studied. The perspectives of the students were studied in three domains namely pattern of examination (case scenario based), preparedness by online classes and the actual conduct of the exam. The responses were asked’ Yes’ ‘can’t say’ or ‘no’ questions. The data collected was converted into Microsoft excel format from Google form.

Results: 103 students gave consent and filled the questionnaire through google forms.Around 3/4^th of the students agreed that online clinical classes have helped them in summative assessment. Around half of them had no difficulty in the performance because of COVID restrictions. .  More than half were happy with the case scenario-based assessment and didn’t feel exam with actual patients would be better. 21.4% commented the truth that history taking is a skill which couldn’t be assessed with case scenarios and hence the traditional way of eliciting history and intervention with patients was not assessed.Conclusion: well written case based scenarios that can simulate real patients can be an alternative for real cases in emergency conditions and restriction during pandemics