Use of Concept Retrieval Technique as an Assessment Tool of Long-term Knowledge of Medical Students

Authors

Moeber Mahzari, College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ministry of the National Guard, Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Marwa Kambal, College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tarig Mohammed, College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Awad Alshahrani, College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ministry of the National Guard, Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Fahad Al wadi, College of Medicine, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Purpose: Medical students’ knowledge assessment is a challenge. Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) despite their limitations are commonly used for this purpose. The Concept Retrieval Technique (CRT) is a relatively new knowledge assessment method. In this study we investigated the use of CRT to assess a particular long-term knowledge of medical students from different study levels. Method: One hundred forty-four medical students (50% females) participated in an Endocrinology CRT exam. The students were either in fourth, fifth-or sixth-year of the medical program. Fourth-year students were tested before they received an endocrinology course whereas students from the fifth- and sixth-year respectively took the course ten and twenty-four months before being tested. The CRT was rated by two raters independently. Results: There was strong effect of year of study on the CRT score. Fourth-year students scored significantly lower than fifth- and sixth-year students. No significant differences in CRT score emerged between fifth- and sixth-year students. The inter-rater agreement was acceptable indicating that the CRT is a reliable assessment method. The CRT showed construct validity. Conclusion: The CRT is an assessment tool that could assess long-term knowledge retention properly, and has the ability to differentiate students according to their study level. © 2019 King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences

Recommended Citation

Mahzari, Moeber; Kambal, Marwa; Mohammed, Tarig; Alshahrani, Awad; and Al wadi, Fahad (2020) "Use of Concept Retrieval Technique as an Assessment Tool of Long-term Knowledge of Medical Students," Health Professions Education: Vol. 6: Iss. 1, Article 1.
DOI: 10.1016/j.hpe.2019.06.001
Available at: https://hpe.researchcommons.org/journal/vol6/iss1/1