The Development of Evaluation Methods for Outcomes in Medical Humanities Curriculum of a Medical School / 계명의대학술지

ABSTRACT

This study was performed to select the proper assessing methods for learning outcomes in undergraduate education of medical humanities (MH), and to evaluate whether student assessments in MH curricula are related to the graduate outcomes (GO)and/or periodic phase outcomes (PO). We searched the reasonable assessing methods for GO and PO of MH curricula of Keimyung University School of Medicine (KUSM). The outcomes are composed of six competencies including patient care, communication, patient support, professionalism, problem solving and research, and self-development. Then, we analyzed whether student assessments carried out during formal MH curricula properly achieved their PO, furthermore their GO. Four competencies including communication, patient support, professionalism, self-development were lightened to be closely related to outcomes for MH. Only the component of problem solving was settled to be related to MH in the competency of problem solving and research. The competency of patient care was excluded from the relationship with MH. The assessing methods for the GO and three PO recommended from educational experts, and there were various available assessing methods based on medical situations and clinical contexts including direct observation of clinical skills, 360 degree feedback, peer review, self-assessment, project-based assessment, portfolio-based assessment, discussion & presentation-based assessment, log-based assessment. For the outcome-achieving from formal MH curricula, the MH programs of phase-1 (1st and 2nd grades) almost accomplished the PO of communication, patient supporting and professionalism, and considerably accomplished the PO of problem solving and self-development. The MH programs of phase-2 (3rd and 4th grades) accomplished considerably their PO as the competencies of professionalism and problem solving, and partially as communication, patient supporting and self-development. However, as only one program, public health law, was provided for MH program in phase-3 (5th and 6th grades), the extra methods to evaluate their MH outcomes are needed. Many assessing methods can be available for the most MH competencies consisting of the GO of KUSM, and the proper assessing methods for each MH competency should be selected based on programs and learning contexts in MH education. While formal MH curricula of the school variously accomplished the MH competencies of GO according to periodic phases of curricula, it is recommended to enhance the feasibility and effectiveness of evaluation for GO in MH curricula of the school.