Components of a System for Evaluating Progress of Professionals In-Training.

An evaluation system which was used to monitor the progress of resident physicians in the Family Practice Residency at the University of North Carolina is discussed. The system was designed as an information management system which reflects both broad philosophical principles and goals as well as specific behavioral objectives. The three major components of the system are described and illustrated in the appendix: (1) training goals, grouped under three domains (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) and three roles of the family physician (clinician, manager of the practice, and professional); (2) a data collection subsystem in which (a) faculty complete check lists based on reviews of patient charts and encounters with patients, (b) a standardized test is administered, and (c) data are processed by microcomputers; and (3) a subsystem for using the data to assess resident performance and provide educational direction. Educational implications are discussed, as well as implications for program design and management. (GDC)