Registrar clinical teaching visits: Evaluation of an assessment tool

Background: External clinical teaching (ECT) visits provide structured feedback to general practice registrars concerning their performance during training. This study sought to evaluate the acceptability to general practice registrars of a quantitative, criterion based, formative assessment tool to be administered during ECT visits. Methods: We used a standardised, validated consultation feedback proforma and set the 1-5 rating at the FRACGP exam standard. An evaluation questionnaire was given to the registrar and returned separately. Results: Twenty-six ECT visits were conducted from September 2005 to March 2006. A total of 21 registrar feedback forms were received (response rate 80.1%). Twenty (95%) registrars agreed the form provided useful feedback and was a useful prompt for discussion with their medical educator. Eighty-six percent felt their ratings were fair. Discussion: Quantitative formative assessment was well received by the majority of general practice registrars. This tool complements other formative assessment tools used in general practitioner training.