Alison Evans

Richard Sloan

National Project Marking Schedule

• To inform participants about the NPMS

• For participants to know what support will be needed by registrars and trainers in undertaking and supervising project work

Aims

• Short presentation

• Work on projects

• Discussion / questions

Outline

• Problem Based Learning agenda

• Encourages in-depth learning about one

aspect of practice

• Self direction

• Spirit of enquiry

Project Work In Training

• ability to construct a logical argument and communicate it in written English

• ability to plan and sustain activity over a period of time

Competencies Tested

• wider range of submission allowed

• must refer to relevant literature

• criteria marked on scale rather than ‘all or nothing’

• encourages higher levels of achievement than ‘minimum competence’

How is the NPMS Different?

• addresses a defined problem

• is related to previous work

• presents qualitative or quantitative findings

• interprets these findings

• draws conclusions from the evidence presented

Project – a self directed piece of learning which:

• questionnaire study • notes review• literature review• clinical case study• research study• plan for a new service in the practice• audit• discussion paper

The Project May Be a :

• developed by GP educators with experience of assessing projects

• modified following consultation with 186 GP educators nation-wide

• majority of respondents agreed with the criteria used and description of level of minimum competence

Validity

• good agreement between markers

• high sensitivity and specificity shown in initial testing (89% and 78%, compared to 83% and 80% for audit schedule at equivalent stage of testing)

Reliability

• total score of 18 or more out of possible 30

• not less than 2 on any criterion

Pass Rules:

• Three first level markers, if one or more refer, goes to two second level markers

• second level markers agree pass or refer• if refer, must agree score on each criterion• marking sheet returned to GPR with invitation

to resubmit same re-written project or a new one

• resubmission marked by second level markers

Marking

• projects referred after resubmission are submitted to National markers who make final decision on pass / fail

• comments from all markers sent to GPR’s new trainer if additional training is undertaken

Referrals

• Deaneries may train their own markers - project material can be supplied if needed

• GPRs from Deaneries outside Yorkshire may submit projects to be marked in Yorkshire with the consent of their Director

• Yorkshire markers will claim fees directly from the GPR’s Deanery

Implementing the NPMS

• Annual 3-day trainers seminar on supervising audit and research projects - includes informatics training

• Local trainers’ workshops

• Advice on an individual basis

Supporting Trainers

Key Points for Success

• Look at some past projects – www.bradfordvts.co.uk

• Choose something you are really interested in

• Look at the marking crib

• Minimum 6 references

• KEEP IT SIMPLE

• Self assess it / Get a trainer

Supporting Registrars

• Annual 5-day Summer School ‘All you ever wanted to know about projects’ - includes literature searching and appraisal, computer skills, methodology

• half-day release• trainers’ workshops• tele-conferencing• individual advice from NPMS team