Recorded presentation

John S. Stites, DC, DACBR, Department of Clinic, Palmer College of Chiropractic, 2201 11th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201, 309 786-2663, Stites_J@palmer.edu

The importance of the patient history is paramount in clinical assessment. However, ensuring competency in this skill in students presents challenges. The most common means of evaluating this skill in both medical and chiropractic students is through direct observation and OSCE format testing. Generally, these procedures evaluate whether or not all appropriate questions have been asked of the patient. Less implicit in this evaluation system is whether or not the information derived is correctly interpreted and recorded by the student.

The purpose of this project was to develop a method of evaluation to assess chiropractic students’ ability to interpret historical data correctly and record it completely. The project involves a predefined script presented to a class of students who then generate a written narrative. This is followed by a quiz testing material recall.

The project was piloted with a group of eight students. The students took notes and were then given eight minutes to write up a narrative history of the patient’s complaint. The narratives were collected and a short quiz based on the script was given to the students. A forum with the pilot participants provided insight into how the process should be modified to evaluate larger classes. In addition, the pilot data showed that inaccuracies occurred in the written narrative histories.

This talk will present the results of the pilot project and the revised process which will be used with larger groups of chiropractic student externs in different stages of their clinical training.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be made aware of an evaluation process assessing chiropractic students’ skills in history taking.

Keywords: Chiropractic, Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation