Assessment for learning of paediatric cardiology trainees in 41 centres from 19 European countries

Colin J McMahon*, Ornella Milanesi, Olli Pitkänen-Argillander, Dimpna C Albert-Brotons, Ina Michel-Behnke, Inga Voges, Skaiste Sendzikaite, Ruth Heying

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on how trainees in paediatric cardiology are assessed among countries affiliated with the Association of European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology. METHODS: A structured and approved questionnaire was circulated to educationalists/trainers in 95 Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology training centres. RESULTS: Trainers from 46 centres responded with complete data in 41 centres. Instructional design included bedside teaching (41/41), didactic teaching (38/41), problem-based learning (28/41), cardiac catheterisation calculations (34/41), journal club (31/41), fellows presenting in the multidisciplinary meeting (41/41), fellows reporting on echocardiograms (34/41), clinical simulation (17/41), echocardiography simulation (10/41), and catheterisation simulation (3/41). Assessment included case-based discussion (n = 27), mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) (n = 12), directly observed procedures (n = 12), oral examination (n = 16), long cases (n = 11), written essay questions (n = 6), multiple choice questions (n = 5), and objective structured clinical examination (n = 2). Entrustable professional activities were utilised in 10 (24%) centres. Feedback was summative only in 17/41 (41%) centres, formative only in 12/41 (29%) centres and a combination of formative and summative feedback in 10/41 (24%) centres. Written feedback was provided in 10/41 (24%) centres. Verbal feedback was most common in 37/41 (90 %) centres. CONCLUSION: There is a marked variation in instructional design and assessment across European paediatric cardiac centres. A wide mix of assessment tools are used. Feedback is provided by the majority of centres, mostly verbal summative feedback. Adopting a programmatic assessment focusing on competency/capability using multiple assessment tools with regular formative multisource feedback may promote assessment for learning of paediatric cardiology trainees.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)588-596
Number of pages9
JournalCardiology in the Young
Volume34
Issue number3
Early online date29 Aug 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2024

Keywords

  • Assessment
  • CHD
  • education
  • feedback
  • paediatric cardiology
  • training

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Assessment for learning of paediatric cardiology trainees in 41 centres from 19 European countries'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this