Assessing the problem-based clerkship: The rationale for and costs of a multidimensional assessment program

The assessment program of the University of Kentucky Surgical Clerkship has been developed to measure not only knowledge acquisition but also the acquisition of problem-solving abilities and clinical skills. Student performance is evaluated both subjectively and objectively using the following methods: tutor, preceptor, and peer evaluations; multiple-choice examinations; computerized patient management problems; standardized patient examinations; objective structured clinical examinations; and surgery shelf examinations (NBME-II surgery). Such a multifaceted evaluation program requires a considerable investment of time and financial resources; estimates of both are included in this report. Because such a program more reliably assesses student performance, however, the costs are well justified.