The validity of general practitioners' self assessment of knowledge: cross sectional study
BMJ 1997; 315 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.315.7120.1426 (Published 29 November 1997) Cite this as: BMJ 1997;315:1426
- Jocelyn Tracey (j.tracey{at}auckland.ac.nz), assistant directora,
- Bruce Arroll, associate professorb,
- Philip Barham, directora,
- David Richmond, dean of undergraduate studiesc
- a Goodfellow Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
- b Department of General Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Auckland
- c Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Auckland
- Correspondence to: Dr Tracey
- Accepted 11 August 1997
Abstract
Objective: To determine whether general practitioners can make accurate self assessments of their knowledge in specific areas.
Design: 67 general practitioners completed a self assessment of their level of knowledge over a variety of topics using a nine point semantic differential scale. An objective assessment of their knowledge was then made by administering true-false tests on two of the topics: thyroid disorders and non-insulin dependent diabetes. The study was repeated with another group of 60 general practitioners, using sexually transmitted diseases as the topic
Setting: General practices in New Zealand.
Subjects: Random sample of 67 general practitioners in Auckland.
Main outcome measure: Test scores for self assessment and for actual knowledge.
Results: Correlations between self assessments and test scores were poor for all three topics studied (r=0.19 for thyroid disorders, 0.21 for non-insulin dependent diabetes, 0.19 for sexually transmitted diseases).
Conclusions: As general practitioners cannot accurately assess their own level of knowledge on a given topic, professional development programmes that rely on the doctors' self perceptions to assess their needs are likely to be seriously flawed.
Key message
Doctors' perception of knowledge in areas of common practice is no indication of actual knowledge
Continuing medical education and other professional development activities that rely on the doctors' self perception to assess their needs are likely to be seriously flawed
To make professional development activities more efficient and effective a more objective assessment of needs is necessary
Footnotes
- Accepted 11 August 1997