Feasibility, reliability, and validity of the mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mCEX) in a medicine core clerkship

Purpose. To determine the feasibility, reliability and validity of the mCEX when used to evaluate medical students' clinical skills in a medicine core clerkship. Method. In 2002, students were required to complete nine mCEX during their medicine clerkship. Mean mCEX scores were correlated with exam scores and course grades. Results. 89% of targeted mCEX were completed. The reproducibility coefficient for eight mCEX was .77. Mean mCEX scores were significantly correlated with exam scores (r = .22; P = .004), inpatient (r = .43; p < .0001), outpatient (r = .35; p < .0001), and final course grades (r = .19; P = .014). Conclusions. These data support the feasibility, reproducibility, and validity of the mCEX in evaluating medicine clerkship students' clinical skills.