The Predicting Validity of Electronic Logbook Software for Success Rate of the Residents in Promotion Exam, Mashhad School of Medicine, Iran

Background & Objective: According to the regulations for residents’ promotion exam, fifty percent of score (150 scores) is measured via internal academic evaluation; from which, thirty scores are measured using logbook software. Considering the importance of this method in the evaluation of residents, this research investigated the relationship between the residents’ educational and practical activities measured via logbook method and their success in promotion exam. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical research, the study population consisted of 730 residents who participated in the promotion exam. Using the stratified sampling method and according to Krejcie and Morgan table, 244 residents were selected. Then, the score of each divided educational activity (theoretical class, morning report, practical skills, infirmary, clinical rounds, journal club, and educational conference) was measured separately for each resident and its relationship with the promotion exam score was investigated. The data were analyzed using SPSS Software. Results: The correlation coefficients of the score of promotion exam and educational activities were calculated for theoretical class (r = 0.52; P = 0.049), morning report (r = -0.20; P = 0.719), practical skills (r = -0.28; P = 0.060), infirmary (r = -0.09; P = 0.144), clinical rounds (r = 0.04; P > 0.999), journal club (r = -0.047; P = 0.460), and educational conference (r = -0.19; P = 0.100). The used method only described 28 percent of the promotion exam scores. Conclusion: Only the theoretical class had significant relationship with residents’ success in promotion exam. It seems that either the promotion exam is not based on the educational activities or the educational activities are only theoretical and far of the clinical skills. Key Words: Logbook software, Promotion exam, Residen