Mini-CEX Improves Clinical Competence in Undergraduate Medical Students

A new study conducted at the Bahria Medical and Dental College in Karachi, Pakistan, has shown that the mini clinical evaluation exercise (Mini-CEX) is an effective formative learning tool for clinical skills in undergraduate medical students. The research, published in the BMC Medical Education journal, aimed to study the effect of Mini-CEX on clinical skills and confidence in undergraduate medical students.

The study, led by Shazia Fakhir Durrani and colleagues from Bahria University Health Sciences, involved 143 final-year MBBS students who were randomly allocated into four groups. The intervention groups received Mini-CEX evaluations, while the control groups did not. The results showed that the intervention groups achieved higher ward test and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) scores than the control groups. Additionally, 85.2% of the respondents reported improved clinical skills and confidence, with limited faculty availability noted as a barrier.

Key Takeaways:

• The mini clinical evaluation exercise (Mini-CEX) is an effective formative learning tool for clinical skills in undergraduate medical students.
• The study involved 143 final-year MBBS students who were randomly allocated into four groups.
• The intervention groups received Mini-CEX evaluations, while the control groups did not.
• The results showed that the intervention groups achieved higher ward test and OSCE scores than the control groups.
• 85.2% of the respondents reported improved clinical skills and confidence.
• Limited faculty availability was noted as a barrier to implementing the Mini-CEX.

Statistics:

• 143 final-year MBBS students participated in the study.
• 76 (53.1%) of the students received Mini-CEX evaluations.
• The intervention groups achieved higher ward test scores (72.3 ± 7.5 vs. 65.4 ± 8.2; p = 0.002; d = 0.65).
• The intervention groups achieved higher OSCE scores (75.6 ± 6.9 vs. 68.1 ± 7.8; p = 0.001; d = 0.71).
• 85.2% of the respondents reported improved clinical skills and confidence.

Sources:

• Effect of Mini-CEX as formative learning tool for clinical skills in undergraduate medical students in a private medical university in Karachi, Pakistan. BMC Medical Education, 2025;25(1):1356.
• BMC Medical Education can be contacted at: Bmc, Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9XW, England.
• Shazia Fakhir Durrani, Dept. of for Medical Education, Bahria University Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Ammara Hameed, Pallavi Rani, Shakeel Ahmed, Shehla Baqai, and Rida Ali.
• Bmc, Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9XW, England.