Feasibility, reliability, and validity of the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mCEX) in a medicine core clerkship

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the feasibility, reliability and validity of the mCEX when used to evaluate medical students' clinical skills in a medicine core clerkship.

Method: In 2002, students were required to complete nine mCEX during their medicine clerkship. Mean mCEX scores were correlated with exam scores and course grades.

Results: 89% of targeted mCEX were completed. The reproducibility coefficient for eight mCEX was.77. Mean mCEX scores were significantly correlated with exam scores (r =.22; p =.004), inpatient (r =.43; p <.0001), outpatient (r =.35; p <.0001), and final course grades (r =.19; p =.014).

Conclusions: These data support the feasibility, reproducibility, and validity of the mCEX in evaluating medicine clerkship students' clinical skills.