Critical Review of “Family Health Advisory Services” Assessment in MBBS Training Program in Community Medicine

CONTEXT: Family Health Advisory Services (FHAS) posting as well as its assessment is resource demanding but fails to enjoy priority. Study focuses on a holistic overview of the assessment process to understand need for change. AIMS: The aim of this study is to identify perceived gaps in current assessment practices related to FHAS posting. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional mixed method study among all the V semester students currently undergoing assessment for the posting, past students (selected VII semester students and interns), preceptors (supervising residents – postgraduate students in department and senior resident, health assistants, medical social service officer), and involved faculty. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Self-administered questionnaire, in-depth interview, focus group discussions (two) as well as observations using checklist were used for data collection and triangulation. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Quantitative data used in this study were statistical measures of central tendency and dispersion. Qualitative data transcript repeatedly read to identify underlying common themes, compared to draw inference. RESULTS: There was a lack of guidelines and communication regarding assessment. Formative assessment was not performed and replaced by one time end assessment. All components of learning were not assessed. End-posting assessment was not standardized and unrelated to learning objectives. Award of scores was skewed toward right for intervention and toward left for analysis and community diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to focus on proper implementation of programme to strengthen formative assessment. Assessment should be relevant to learning objectives of posting. Faculty has to lead by example.