2018 Volume 2 Article ID: 2018-002
Since 2015, in Keio University, we have developed a set of holistic rubrics for assessing students’ performance in practical training in their fifth year. We have administered it on a series of trials in Keio University Hospital in 2016 and 2017 to prepare for the practical training in 2019, which is based on a “revised model core curriculum for pharmaceutical education” incorporating out-come based education. The first and second trials in 2016 identified some problems. The mentors felt burdened, and the rubrics did not work well because the descriptions of performance at each achievement level were unclear. To address these issues, first, we revised the rubrics and added examples to help mentors with the assessment. Second, the assessment frequency was decreased. Furthermore, we also organized faculty-led orientation sessions on using the rubrics not only for mentors but for all pharmacists in the facility. These efforts have resulted in the effective use of the rubrics in the subsequent 2017 trial, thus reducing the mentors’ burden of using the rubrics. This is not so different from using the rating scale of Specific Behavioral Objectives (SBOs). Furthermore, to mentors, the rubrics seemed to be more proper and objective for assessing students’ performance than the SBOs’ rating scale.
Based on these results, it is feasible to use rubrics for assessing pharmaceutical students’ performance in practical training. However, effective efforts, as follows, are needed: (a) making rubrics clearer and more user-friendly, (b) familiarizing the rubrics, and (c) building unity of purpose among relevant staff.
