(631.6) GARLAQs vs. Multiple Choice Questions: Do First-Year Medical Students Perform Similarly on their Anatomy Examinations?

Poster Board Number: C6
Introduction: AAA has separate poster presentation times for odd and even posters.
Odd poster #s – 10:15 am – 11:15 am
Even poster #s – 11:15 am – 12:15 pm

Mitchell Thom (Case Western Reserve University), Steven ONeill (Case Western Reserve University), Andrew Crofton (Case Western Reserve University), Susanne Wish-Baratz (Case Western Reserve University)

PURPOSE

Medical students at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine are assessed on their knowledge of anatomy using an essay exam that tests clinically relevant anatomy/radiology concepts (Gross Anatomy, Radiology, and Living Anatomy Questions, or GARLAQ). GARLAQs are uniquely designed to facilitate student collaboration, as such these essay questions are given to students months prior to examination. This format has raised concerns about student memorization and a lack of in-depth understanding of GARLAQ answers. The purpose of the present study is threefold: 1) to examine whether students perform similarly on GARLAQs and Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) examinations, 2) to assess whether students perform similarly to the GARLAQs on MCQs throughout the hierarchy of Bloom’s Taxonomy, 3) to collect qualitative data on student opinions of both assessment formats.

METHODS

First-year medical students will be assessed during the gastrointestinal unit of their clinical anatomy curriculum. Volunteers will be recruited from a class of 184 students. A crossover study design will be employed, wherein participants will be randomly placed into one of two cohorts: 1) first complete the required GARLAQ exam, second the MCQ exam, or 2) first complete the MCQ exam, second the required GARLAQ exam. A paired t-test will determine if there is a difference in overall examination performance for each respective student. Each MCQ will be categorized using Bloom’s Taxonomy. A paired t-test will compare each student’s mean scores by Bloom’s category to their GARLAQ performance. Participants will also complete a post-test survey in which they will be asked to rate their opinions about contrasting exam modalities on a 5-point Likert scale.

RESULTS

Data collection is currently ongoing and will be completed in February, 2022

CONCLUSION 

Information gained through review of student assessment scores and responses can guide future curricular changes at our institution in a cycle of continuous improvement.

Support or Funding Information

The present study has received no financial support and is not funded.