Assess trainees in the clinical workplace using the Mini-CEX (mini clinical evaluation exercise)

The Mini-CEX will require a community of assessors, who are prepared to observe short, focused clinical encounters and then make and stand by judgements as to the levels of competence of the trainees they are assessing. This can prove challenging, especially in situations where an individual acts as both the trainer and the assessor. Assessors need to be well informed; aware of the competencies being assessed and the required standards that need to be obtained. They should also be skilled at providing constructive feedback. As Holmboe and colleagues note, these various attributes will necessitate a commitment to ongoing training being provided in order to ensure that the quality of work-based assessments is maintained. General practice is well placed to ensure that this occurs as part of the professionalisation of the specialty. © 2006 Medical Education @ Cardiff Series.