How to pass the MRCPsych
examination
Dr Bruce Owen
Outcomes
• By the end of this session, participants will be
able to
– recognise one model of medical skills and how
they are assessed
– Describe the structure, content and function of
the different parts of the assessment system in
psychiatry
– Recognise the concept of learning styles and how
to structure their learning for maximum
effectiveness
“The most important things are not measured”
W Edwards Deming
Two purposes of assessment
• Formative
– ‘Assessment for learning’
• Summative
– ‘Assessment of learning
Miller’s pyramid
Does
Shows how
Knows how
Knows
Performance
Competence
Miller’s pyramid and assessment
360˚
Performance
Does
WPBA
CEX
DOPs
CbD
Competence
Shows how
Knows how
OSCE (CASC)
Written tests
MCQ/EMI
Knows
WPBA = Workplace based assessment
OSCE = Observed structured clinical examination
Outcomes
• By the end of this session, participants will be
able to
– recognise one model of medical skills and how
they are assessed
– Describe the structure, content and function of
the different parts of the assessment system in
psychiatry
– Recognise the concept of learning styles and how
to structure their learning for maximum
effectiveness
The Assessment System
• Includes:
– Standardised (national) exams – mainly
summative
– Workplace-based assessments – mainly formative
– Integration – ultimately summative
National exams
• Paper 1
–
–
–
–
Clinical topics at a basic level
Basic psychology
Psychopathology
Social sciences
• Paper 2
–
–
–
–
Psychopharmacology
Neuroscience relevant
Epidemiology
Advanced psychology
• Paper 3
– Research and ebm
– All psychiatry specialties
National clinical exam
• CASC
– 8 single stations 7 mins
– 4 double/linked stations 10 mins
Miller’s pyramid and assessment
360˚
Performance
Does
WPBA
CEX
DOPs
CbD
Competence
Shows how
Knows how
OSCE (CASC)
Written tests
MCQ/EMI
Knows
WPBA = Workplace based assessment
OSCE = Observed structured clinical examination
WPBA in psychiatry
• Lots of acronyms, only four methods
Four core methods 1
• Based on documents:
– Log book assessment
– Case based Discussion
(Chart Stimulated Recall)
Four core methods 2
• Direct observation of a
procedure
–
–
–
–
–
DOPS
DONCS
Teaching
Case presentation
Journal Club
presentation
Four core methods 3
• Observed clinical
encounters
– Mini-Assessed Clinical
Encounter
– Assessment of Clinical
Expertise
Four core methods 4
• Multi-source feedback
(360°)
– Mini-Peer Assessment
Tool
Integration – the tasks of the Annual Review
of Competency Progression
• Assess the evidence
– Contained in Portfolio
– Formal assessments
– Reports
• Make a decision based
on the evidence
– Summative pass/fail
Guide for ARCP panels
• Guides trainees and trainers as to what should
be assessed
• how it should be assessed
• and at which stages
ARCP Guide for Core Psychiatry Training
http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/training/curriculum2010.aspx
ARCP decisions: 1. Progress onwards
2. Need to develop within time
3. Need to develop additional time
4. Leave the programme
5. Incomplete evidence
Outcomes
• By the end of this session, participants will be
able to
– recognise one model of medical skills and how
they are assessed
– Describe the structure, content and function of
the different parts of the assessment system in
psychiatry
– Recognise the concept of learning styles and how
to structure their learning for maximum
effectiveness
Learning/teaching activities
•
•
•
•
Instructional activity
Simulation
Workplace activity
Reflection
Kolb’s Learning Cycle
Perform part of an
interview contributing
to risk assessment
Guided reading of
psychiatric
literature
Active
experimentation
Concrete
experience
Abstract
conceptualisation
Reflective
observation
Watching your
trainer perform a
risk assessment
Discussion of
observations in
supervision
Kolb (1984) Experiential learning: experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice Hall
Which type of learner are you?
• Reflector – watch and feel
– Watch, think and review
• Theorist – watch and think
– Think a problem through
• Pragmatist – do and think
– Likes to apply new learning
• Activist – do and feel
– Likes to experience new things
Thank you!
Any questions?