Exploring the foundation programme trainees’ experience of CEX assessments

ABSTRACT

The mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX) is the most widely used assessment within the UK Foundation Programme. Despite being the archetype of a formative, workplace-based assessment, empirical evidence to support its formative value is lacking. I set out to explore our Foundation Programme trainees‘ experience of CEX assessments, through a small study utilising qualitative methodology. My informants’ experience suggested that there remain numerous challenges in the implementation of formative assessments within the UK FP. The conclusions of the study challenged whether placing emphasis on workplace-based assessments is really a better way to promote the professional development of FP doctors than ensuring they receive frequent, meaningful clinical supervision and actively participate in a community of practice within their workplace.

KEYWORDS:

• Foundation programme
• workplace-based assessment
• mini-CEX
• assessment practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.