A national study of medical student clinical skills assessment.

BACKGROUND: This study describes comprehensive standardized patient examinations in medical schools nationally.

METHOD: We surveyed 121 medical school curriculum deans regarding their use of standardized patient assessments. Questions addressed examination characteristics, funding sources, and collaborations.

RESULTS: A total of 91 of 121 curriculum deans responded (75% response rate). The majority (84%) of respondents report conducting a comprehensive clinical skills assessment during the third or fourth year of medical school. Most programs are funded with dean's office monies. Although many collaborate with other institutions for examination development, the majority of schools score and remediate students independently. Two-thirds of all respondents (61/91) report that the new standardized patient licensing requirement elevates the importance of in-house clinical skills examinations.

CONCLUSIONS: Most medical schools now conduct comprehensive clinical skills assessments after the core clerkships, and collaboration is common. These results suggest increasing emphasis on clinical and communication skills competency and opportunities for collaborative research.