The electronic application “MedAPProc” for the formative evaluation in the medical internship

Abstract

One of the greatest challenges for medical schools is to rethink, research and adapt technologies for learning and knowledge acquisition to processes of empathic communication, social, cultural and professional exchange, and of emotional harmony for university stakeholders. The evaluation of the level of achievement of the competences that physicians need to develop is a fundamental task in their training process. Cell phones and electronic tablets offer a great number of possibilities to include new ways of evaluation and recording of information during the development of students’ competencies.

In the framework of evaluations through Entrusted Professional Activities (EPAs), the implementation of mobile applications (Apps) to capture data and provide feedback to students is increasing every day. Studies have been conducted to identify successes and barriers in incorporating Apps to assess EPAs. The purpose of this article is to describe how technologies for learning and knowledge acquisition were incorporated in the implementation of the electronic application “MedAPProc” in the formative evaluation through Entrusted Professional Activities in the medical internship of the Medical Surgeon major of the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The needs, advantages and limitations of swithcing from paper to electronic formats in order to improve and make more efficient the evaluation of students’ competencies performance are described.