The use of an objective structured clinical examination to assess internal medicine residents' transfusion knowledge

Abstract

This study again indicated that transfusion knowledge is poor among internal medicine trainees and that this does not improve with increasing number of years of training. Innovative strategies for transfusion education are urgently needed and should be rigorously assessed for efficacy.

Internal medicine resident knowledge of transfusion medicine: results from the BEST‐TEST international education needs assessment

“…Our results are consistent with previously published findings of poor transfusion medicine exam performance . As with any area of medical research, however, studies investigating attitudes and knowledge must utilize accurate and precise assessment tools.…”

“…We do hope our exam (available by contacting the lead author) can be used by educators in other specialties as a starting point to test their own residents and as a backbone for adding relevant questions. Our exam also does not demonstrate ability in performance‐based competencies and studies using tools such as objective structured clinical examinations may help in this regard …”

“…A transfusion medicine knowledge needs assessment is required to best understand and then address these educational deficits . While several studies have administered transfusion medicine assessment tools to physicians, the exams and surveys underwent minimal validation . In addition, generalizability was limited as the study populations were confined to either a single center or a region.…”

BEST‐TEST2: assessment of hematology trainee knowledge of transfusion medicine

“…As well, there is evidence that the informal education that occurs on the clinical wards with increasing PGY level does not appear to be sufficient. Studies have demonstrated that increasing PGY level (or clinical experience) alone does not appear to significantly improve transfusion medicine knowledge . Graham and coworkers did not find any improvement in transfusion competency between first‐ and second‐year foundation (newly qualified) doctors.…”

Evaluation of “Transfusion Camp,” a postgraduate transfusion medicine education program using the BEST‐TEST knowledge assessment tool

“…Second, this report does not include a control group of residents who had not participated in Transfusion Camp, although prior studies suggest that TM knowledge does not increase with increasing postgraduate year of training alone. 2,3 Finally, this report does not suggest that a 5-day curriculum is superior to the previously offered 1-month blood bank rotation but offers an alternative to educate many more residents in a setting of limited teaching resources.…”