Development of MEDUC-PG14 survey to assess postgraduate teaching in medical specialties

Background: Feedback is one of the most important tools to improve teaching in medical education. Aim: To develop an instrument to assess the performance of clinical postgraduate teachers in medical specialties. Material and Methods: A qualitative methodology consisting in interviews and focus-groups followed by a quantitative methodology to generate consensus,was employed. After generating the instrument,psychometric tests were performed to assess the construct validity (factor analysis) and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha). Results: Experts in medical education,teachers and residents of a medical school participated in interviews and focus groups. With this information,26 categories (79 items) were proposed and reduced to 14 items (Likert scale 1-5) by an expert’s Delphi panel,generating the MEDUC-PG14 survey,which was answered by 123 residents from different programs of medical specialties. Construct validity was carried out. Factor analysis showed three domains: Teaching and evaluation,respectful behavior towards patients and health care team,and providing feedback. The global score was 4.46 +/- 0.94 (89% of the maximum). One teachers’ strength,as evaluated by their residents was “respectful behavior” with 4.85 +/- 0.42 (97% of the maximum). “Providing feedback” obtained 4.09 +/- 1.0 points (81.8% of the maximum). MEDUC-PG14 survey had a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.947. Conclusions: MEDUC-PG14 survey is a useful and reliable guide for teacher evaluation in medical specialty programs. Also provides feedback to improve educational skills of postgraduate clinical teachers.