Can a computerized tracking system improve faculty compliance with medical student evaluations?

Abstract

Aim: We examined whether using a new personal digital assistant (PDA)-based computerized tracking system (PDAT) improved the rate of faculty evaluation of students compared to using written clinical encounter cards. Also, we examined whether the addition of e-mail reminders to PDAT affected the evaluation rate.

Methods: Retrospective review of collected data on evaluation rates before and after implementation of the computerized tracking system, with and without e-mail reminders. Written encounter cards were available during all phases of the study. The study was conducted at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Results: Evaluation rates between three separate 3-month periods were compared: (1) written cards alone, (2) PDAT alone and (3) PDAT plus e-mail reminders to the faculty (PDAT-e). The odds ratio (OR) for faculty completion of evaluations was 2.97 when electronic and paper submission were available compared to paper-only evaluations (95% CI: 2.10–4.22, p-value <0.0001). With the addition of e-mail reminders, the OR was 4.19 (95% CI: 2.98–5.88, p-value <0.0001).

Conclusion: PDAT significantly improved faculty compliance with medical student evaluations when compared with written cards alone. The addition of e-mail reminders further improved faculty compliance, but this was not statistically significant. The use of a PDAT appears to be an effective way to improve faculty compliance with medical student evaluations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Manthey

DAVID MANTHEY, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

David I. Magilner

DAVID MAGILNER, MD, MSPH, is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Adora Ozumba

ADORA OZUMBA was a 4th year medical studenta at Wake Forest University School of Medicine at the time of this study.

Rebecca H. Neiberg

REBECCA NEIBERG, MS, is a member of the Department of Biostatistics at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.