Analysis of undergraduate pharmacology question papers at Goa medical college as regards to their content areas

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Undergraduate medical education aims at sculpting the future physicians. Knowledge gained during this period helps the physician to deal with human ailments and thus human life. It is necessary to ensure that students learn what is important and thus it is very important to ask the right questions in the examinations.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a retrospective analytical study involving evaluation of university theory examination question papers of pharmacology of II<sup>nd</sup> MBBS at our institute. Question papers from the year 2000 to 2016 were analyzed for weightage to content areas as regards to the syllabus. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Autonomic nervous system (25.28%) and cardiovascular system (22.30%) in paper I and chemotherapy (33.50%) and central nervous system (23.76%) in paper II are the maximum weightage content areas. Some aspects which are of clinical importance remained uncovered in a few papers, example: autacoids, kidney, gastrointestinal tract, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, miscellaneous.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> For consistency of validity in the assessment, we suggest that it should be based on structured guidelines. Methods like test blueprinting and table of specifications may be used.</p>

Analysis of Undergraduate Pharmacology Written (SAQ) Question of Different Universities in Bangladesh

“…As assessment drives learning hence it is important to ask the right questions in examination. Thus question papers in the form of a written examination form a very important tool of the assessment 10 .…”

Descriptive analysis of theory examination question papers of 2nd MBBS pharmacology of Krantiguru Shamji Krishna Verma Kachchh University (Gujarat)

“…A study was conducted at Goa medical college observed that distribution marks were compare to our study as 15.20% vs 18.40% for general pharmacology, 12.05% vs 25.28 % for drug acting to autonomic nervous system but less variation distribution of marks in endocrine (22.40% vs 23.96%), chemotherapy (33.50 vs. 34.90%) and diuretics (5.82% Vs 5.72%). 7 Deviation marks distribution in different subdivision and year wise were observed due to difference in opinion of question setter or examiner. Each examiner has own favourites topic and selected questions from it.…”

“…8 Similar studies regarding distribution of marks in different topic in other subjects in Rajasthan and Pondicherry and in pharmacology subject also reflect urgent need of guidelines for proper distribution of weightage to the content areas. 7,9,10 The adequate coverage of the course content is necessary for the validity of assessment. 11 The content validity is the most important type of validity.…”

Are we assessing them right? A study on the content validity of undergraduate pathology question papers and role of blueprinting in assessment

“…What is assessed and evaluated, how it is done and how results are communicated send a clear message to students about what is really valued, what is worth learning and how it should be learnt, what elements of study are most important and how well students are expected to learn. 4,13 For the validity of any assessment it is important to have a proper coverage of the curriculum. The validity of the assessment is said to be the degree of accuracy with which it measures the aspect which is to be assessed.…”

“…2 No matter what/how much students are taught in classes, they concentrate and learn only topics which appear in exams and therefore due care should be taken while planning assessments to ensure that they are in alignment with the curriculum and also with the purpose and expected outcomes. 3,4 In medical education various methods are employed for assessment of different aspects of student learning. Written examinations are widely used to test the knowledge component of learning.…”