Cross-institutional progress testing: feasibility and value to a new medical school

Medical Education 2010: 44 : 184–186 Objectives This study aimed to examine the feasibility of using a progress test to compare the rate of knowledge acquisition among students at a new medical school with that of students at a comparable but long-established school. Methods As part of an ongoing strategy, we administered the McMaster Personal Progress Index (PPI) on four occasions to the first two cohorts of students enrolled in the graduate-entry medical programme at the University of Limerick. We compared mean PPI scores for students at comparable stages in their courses at both schools. Results To date, the rate of knowledge acquisition is similar in students at both schools. Conclusions Inter-institutional and international collaboration in progress testing is feasible and provides a useful quality assurance tool which can be used by new schools to reassure students, faculty members and accrediting bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]; Copyright of Medical Education is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)