Chinese doctors’ views on workplace-based assessment: trainee and supervisor perspectives of the mini-CEX

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study investigated whether the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) has been successfully integrated into the Chinese context, following its introduction as part of the national general training programme.

Materials and methods: Online questionnaires (N = 91) and interviews (N = 22) were conducted with Year 1 trainee doctors and clinical supervisors at a cancer hospital in China to explore users’ experiences, attitudes and opinions of the mini-CEX.

Results” Trainees were more likely than supervisors to report understanding the purpose of the mini-CEX and agree that it encouraged reflection and helped improve overall performance. Both trainees and supervisors felt that it provided a framework for learning, that it was useful in identifying underperformance, and that it informed learning progression. Groups were equally positive about the commitment of their counterpart in the process and valued the focus on detailed feedback. It was perceived as cultivating the learner–teacher relationship. Overall, both groups felt they ‘bought in’ to using the mini-CEX. However, concerns were raised about subjectivity of ratings and lack of benchmarking with expected standards of care.

Conclusions: Chinese trainees and supervisors generally perceived the mini-CEX as an acceptable and valuable medical training tool, although both groups suggested enhancements to improve its efficacy.

KEYWORDS:

• Mini-CEX
• postgraduate medical education
• workplace-based assessment
• acceptability
• China

Practice points

• The utility of mini-CEX is dependent on its acceptability among users and shared understanding of its purpose.

• Overall, the mini-CEX is welcomed and generally accepted in China, with trainees somewhat more positive than supervisors.

• A trustworthy learning-teaching relationship enhanced the educational value of the mini-CEX.

• Faculty training and ensuring time allowance can optimise the full educational potential of the mini-CEX.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University and all participants for supporting this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.