A video-based situational judgement test of medical students’ communication competence in patient encounters: Development and first evaluation

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sabine Reiser - , University of Erfurt (Author)
  • Laura Schacht - , University of Erfurt (Author)
  • Eva Thomm - , University of Erfurt (Author)
  • Christina Figalist - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Laura Janssen - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Kristina Schick - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Eva Dörfler - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Pascal O. Berberat - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Martin Gartmeier - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Johannes Bauer - , University of Erfurt (Author)

Abstract

Objective: We developed and evaluated the Video-Based Assessment of Medical Communication Competence (VA-MeCo), a construct-driven situational judgement test measuring medical students’ communication competence in patient encounters. Methods: In the construction phase, we conducted two expert studies (npanel1 = 6, npanel2 = 13) to ensure curricular and content validity and sufficient expert agreement on the answer key. In the evaluation phase, we conducted a cognitive pre-test (n = 12) and a pilot study (n = 117) with medical students to evaluate test usability and acceptance, item statistics and test reliability depending on the applied scoring method (raw consensus vs. pairwise comparison scoring). Results: The results of the expert interviews indicated good curricular and content validity. Expert agreement on the answer key was high (ICCs> .86). The pilot study showed favourable usability and acceptance by students. Irrespective of the scoring method, reliability for the complete test (Cronbach's α >.93) and its subscales (α >.83) was high. Conclusion: There is promising evidence that medical communication competence can be validly and reliably measured using a construct-driven and video-based situational judgement test. Practice Implications: Video-based SJTs allow efficient online assessment of medical communication competence and are well accepted by students and educators.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1283-1289
Number of pages7
JournalPatient Education and Counseling
Volume105
Issue number5
Publication statusPublished - May 2022
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 34481676
ORCID /0000-0002-4819-4604/work/170587772

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Basic communication skills, Construct-driven development, Medical education, Situational judgement test, Video-based assessment