AUDIT AND SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT - 2 YEARS PILOT EXPERIENCE

An audit project has been submitted by all trainees in the West of Sco tland since 1992 as part of a pilot process for summative assessment. The impact of 2 consecutive years of audit was assessed on 117 trainee s in May 1994. A response rate of 89% was achieved. For 82 trainees (7 9%) this was their first practical experience of audit and as a result of it 85% felt more confident in introducing change to their next pra ctice. Protected time was still a problem for the majority (53%) and o ne-third wanted more help from their trainer. Thirty trainees (29%) ha d attended four or fewer formal practice meetings in their 10 months o f training, with 10% never having attended one. The previous trainee's audit project was rarely or never discussed with 70 trainees (87%) an d only 12 trainees were evaluating changes recommended. An audit proje ct as part of summative assessment may be encouraging trainees to thin k about change after they leave their training practices. Few, however , are evaluating change and protected time and support are still requi red. The marking of the summative assessment audit project may need to address this.