Association of a Competency-Based Assessment System With Identification of and Support for Medical Residents in Difficulty

IMPORTANCE: Competency-based medical education is now established in health professions training. However, critics stress that there is a lack of published outcomes for competency-based medical education or competency-based assessment tools. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether competency-based assessment is associated with better identification of and support for residents in difficulty. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cohort study of secondary data from archived files on 458 family medicine residents (2006-2008 and 2010-2016) was conducted between July 5, 2016, and March 2, 2018, using a large, urban family medicine residency program in Canada. EXPOSURES: Introduction of the Competency-Based Achievement System (CBAS). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Proportion of residents (1) with at least 1 performance or professionalism flag, (2) receiving flags on multiple distinct rotations, (3) classified as in difficulty, and (4) with flags addressed by the residency program. RESULTS: Files from 458 residents were reviewed (pre-CBAS: n = 163; 81 [49.7%] women; 90 [55.2%] aged >30 years; 105 [64.4%] Canadian medical graduates; post-CBAS: n = 295; 144 [48.8%] women; 128 [43.4%] aged >30 years; 243 [82.4%] Canadian medical graduates). A significant reduction in the proportion of residents receiving at least 1 flag during training after CBAS implementation was observed (0.38; 95% CI, 0.377-0.383), as well as a significant decrease in the numbers of distinct rotations during which residents received flags on summative assessments (0.24; 95% CI, 0.237-0.243). There was a decrease in the number of residents in difficulty after CBAS (from 0.13 [95% CI, 0.128-0.132] to 0.17 [95% CI, 0.168-0.172]) depending on the strictness of criteria defining a resident in difficulty. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in narrative documentation that a flag was discussed with the resident between the pre-CBAS and post-CBAS conditions (0.18; 95% CI, 0.178-0.183). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The CBAS approach to assessment appeared to be associated with better identification of residents in difficulty, facilitating the program’s ability to address learners’ deficiencies in competence. After implementation of CBAS, residents experiencing challenges were better supported and their deficiencies did not recur on later rotations. A key argument for shifting to competency-based medical education is to change assessment approaches; these findings suggest that competency-based assessment may be useful.