Measuring Psychiatric Competence and Curriculum in Undergraduate Medical Education

The author describes an evaluation procedure to assess student competence in making clinical judgments. After viewing a videotape interview between a psychiatrist and patient, students record their observations, feelings about the patient, and plans for diagnosis and treatment. Analyses of responses from undergraduates and medical students at Queen's University and from faculty, staff, and students at the University of New Mexico are presented. Such evaluation procedures can aid faculty in assessing the effectiveness of the curriculum by identifying student difficulties in learning and ensuring that stated objectives are attained.