PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Cohen-Schotanus

Publications and source records attributed to J Cohen-Schotanus.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Open-book tests to complement assessment-programmes: analysis of open and closed-book tests.

Today's health sciences educational programmes have to deal with a growing and changing amount of knowledge. It is becoming increasingly important for students to be able to use and manage knowledge. We suggest incorporating open-book tests in assessment programmes to meet these changes. This view on the use of open-book tests is discussed and the influence on test quality is examined. To cope with the growing amount of medical knowledge, we have divided the body of knowledge into core knowledge, which students must know without need for references, and backup knowledge, which students need to understand and use properly with the help of references if so desired. As a result, all tests consist of a subtest for reproduction and understanding of core knowledge (a closed-book test) and a subtest for the ability to understand and manage backup knowledge (an open-book test). Statistical data from 14 such double-subtest exams for first and second-year students were analyzed for two cohorts (N = 435 and N = 449) with multilevel analysis, in accordance with generalizability theory. The reliability of the open and closed-book sections of the separate tests varied between 0.712 and 0.850. The open-book items reduce reliability somewhat. The estimated disattenuated correlation was 0.960 and 0.937 for cohorts 1 and 2 respectively. It is concluded that the use of open-book items with closed-book items slightly decreases test reliability but the overall index is acceptable. In addition, open and closed-book sections are strongly positively related. Therefore, open-book tests could be helpful in complementing today's assessment programmes.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed2004

Cross institutional collaboration in assessment: a case on progress testing.

The practice of assessment is governed by an interesting paradox. On the one hand good assessment requires substantial resources which may exceed the capacity of a single institution and we have reason to doubt the quality of our in-house examinations. On the other hand, our parsimonity with regard to our resources makes us reluctant to pool efforts and share our test material. This paper reports on an initiative to share test material across different medical schools. Three medical schools in The Netherlands have successfully set up a partnership for a specific testing method: progress testing. At present, these three schools collaboratively produce high-quality test items. The jointly produced progress tests are administered concurrently by these three schools and one other school, which buys the test. The steps taken in establishing this partnership are described and results are presented to illustrate the unique sort of information that is obtained by cross-institutional assessment. In addition, plans to improve test content and procedure and to expand the partnership are outlined. Eventually, the collaboration may even extend to other test formats. This article is intended to give evidence of the feasibility and exciting potential of between school collaboration in test development and test administration. Our experiences have demonstrated that such collaboration has excellent potential to combine economic benefit with educational advantages, which exceed what is achievable by individual schools.

Cooperative Behavior↗
PubMed2002

[Physicians for ten years: a longitudinal survey of the career development of physicians who began their studies in Groningen, the Netherlands].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the career development of two cohorts of medical graduates from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. DESIGN: Structured interviews. METHOD: For all 333 graduates who commenced undergraduate medical training in 1982 and 1983, data were collected for the period 1993-2000 with respect to resident training, income, job load, job satisfaction and scientific research. Gender differences were analysed for all of the variables. This was done by means of structured interviews as well as a strategic search in Medline and the on-line public catalogue of the University of Groningen. RESULTS: In the year 2000, 73% of the graduates had enrolled in resident training, 8% had not succeeded in finding a place. The wish to work part-time had increased strongly over the years. In general, job satisfaction was reasonable. In total 31% of the cohort had published one or more English articles or written a thesis. Gender differences were found for job load and publications. CONCLUSIONS: Ten years after graduation, medical careers had become established. Men had not succeeded in fulfilling their wishes to work part-time. Women were disadvantaged with respect to their scientific career.

Career Choice↗
PubMed1994

[Status of the job market of physicians who started their education in Groningen in 1982 and 1983].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the working experience and desires of doctors, who started their medical training approximately 10 years ago. DESIGN: Telephone inquiry. SETTING: University of Groningen, the Netherlands. METHOD: In the summer of 1993, 98% of medical graduates who started their training at the University of Groningen in 1982 of 1983 were questioned about working experience and wishes for the future. RESULTS: Over 70% worked as medical assistants in hospitals; most of them were not (yet) in training. Almost all male subjects and 4 out of 5 female subjects worked full time. Half of them wished to keep a full time job (two-thirds of the men, one-third of the women). CONCLUSION: When all working desires would be fulfilled, the future work time per doctor would be 86%. There is a great need for specialist training places.

Cohort Studies↗
PubMed1990

[Smoking behavior of medical students, house officers and specialists in Groningen, 1989].

Smoking habits and attitudes towards smoking of medical students (n = 725), house officers (n = 126) and consultants (n = 236) of the University Hospital of Groningen were studied in 1989 using a WHO questionnaire. Overall response was 84%. Twenty-seven percent of the medical students, 28% of the house officers and 34% of the consultants are current smokers. The prevalence of smoking in medical students and house officers is lower than that in the Dutch population. Smoking habits of consultants are similar to the general population. The prevalence of smoking Dutch physicians which was 56% in 1983 is decreasing rapidly. Doctors report they want more information about smoking cessation programs.

Adult↗