The Medical Education Department at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) recently concluded a workshop focused on clinical assessment, aimed at members of the academic staff at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences. This initiative is part of a broader programme aimed at enhancing the educational skills of faculty members.

The workshop was inaugurated by Dr Hany Atwa, Head of the Medical Education Department, who welcomed the participants and underscored the significance of clinical assessment in the educational journey. Dr Atwa noted that the workshop’s objective was to enhance the teaching staff’s performance regarding the assessment of medical students during their training in hospitals, striving for a fair evaluation based on global standards in medical education. 

The workshop included presentations on the importance of workplace-based assessment and its various methods, in addition to the essential role of feedback as a core component of this evaluation process. Attendees also discussed the various challenges that may arise with this type of assessment and strategies to overcome them.

Additionally, Prof. Mohamed Hany, Head of the Family and Community Medicine Department, who participated in the training, highlighted that workplace-based assessment encompasses several practical methods which measure the performance of medical students in a work environment during their interactions with patients. 

He pointed out that a distinguishing feature of this type of assessment is the observation of trainees’ performance in real work settings, along with providing them with feedback, which aids in enhancing their performance and developing their skills, notably in clinical communication, diagnosis and treatment.