MEDICAL EDUCATION
Notes for Primary Care Teachers
ASSESSMENTS – THE CONJOINT MAFP/FRACGP EXAMINATION
Sheikh Amin, FAFPM, FRACGP, AM
Chief Examiner, Board of Examiners, Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia
Address for correspondence: Dr Sheikh Mohd Amin, Klinik Kota Bharu, Bangunan Tabung Haji, 15000 Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
Tel: +609 7485764; Fax: +609 7487485; email: sheikh@pc.jaring.my
This article will briefly discuss the aims and objectives and various components of the Conjoint MAFP/FRACGP examination.
Aim of the Conjoint Examination
To enable a valid, reliable, efficient and feasible assessment to a predetermined standard of competence (and, to a certain extent, the performance) of the candidate in respect of unsupervised work in general practice/family medicine.
Primary objective
To assess and certify the competence of candidates for unsupervised general/family practice.
Secondary objectives
To provide an educational experience for candidates that
- helps them to identify their strengths and weaknesses
- motivates them to undertake specific steps to develop their skills
- stimulates their interest in vocational training and continuing professional development.
Competence and performance
Competence is the ability to carry out task/s and it is usually defined by the three behavioural attributes: knowledge, skills and attitude. Performance is the demonstration of this competence in actual practice.
Knowledge
The first essential attribute is knowledge. The knowledge acquired and retrieved must be applied, i.e. integrated with new knowledge where applicable, interpreted, analysed, synthesised, evaluated, critically appraised and utilised in the solution of health problems.
Skills
The skills involved are referred to as cognitive skills. However in clinical practice, mere possession of cognitive skills is still not enough. Psychomotor and technical skills used in clinical/physical examinations and practical procedures are necessary.- Clinical Skills. Application of cognitive skills together with the appropriate affective behaviour and psychomotor and technical skills in the clinical context (namely, history taking, clinical/physical examination, investigations, problem definition and patient management) would constitute clinical skills.
- Practice Skills. Utilisation of these clinical skills in candidate’s own practice would constitute performance or practice skills.
All these skills must relate or be applied to the content of general practice/family medicine and test instruments are available to assess these skills.
Attitude
Affective behaviour encompassing: rapport, empathy, attitude, communication skills, interpersonal skills, teamwork, integrity, professional and ethical values, and quality of self-awareness.
Test instruments
Conception, design and use of these test instruments in this examination are underpinned by the need and aim to maximise compliance with the criteria of validity, reliability, efficiency and feasibility alluded to above. The composite of these test instruments constitutes the format of our Conjoint examination.
Formative assessment
Continuous assessment with constructive feedback consist of: written tests, clinical examinations and evaluation of log books, supervisors’ reports, etc.
Summative assessment
The objective of the summative assessment is to certify the competence of the trainee who has completed the requisite vocational training program.
