Summative contribution, examiner variability, and faculty workload of the mini-CEX in an undergraduate orthopedic clerkship

Eşref Selçuk; Cem Çopuroğlu; Mert Özcan; Murat Erem; Savaş Yıldırım

doi:10.32322/jhsm.1978723

Summative contribution, examiner variability, and faculty workload of the mini-CEX in an undergraduate orthopedic clerkship

Abstract

Aims: The mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) is widely used for workplace-based assessment, particularly in internal medicine, but its role in surgical clerkships remains less clear. This study evaluated the association between mini-CEX scores and summative performance, examiner-related variability, and the faculty time required for implementation in an undergraduate orthopedic clerkship. Methods: This retrospective observational study included 303 fifth-year medical students who completed the Movement System Diseases and Forensic Traumatology Clerkship at Trakya University, Turkiye, during 2024-2025. The orthopedics practical assessment consisted of an evaluation exam, mini-CEX, and an objective structured practical examination. Correlation, regression, and ROC analyses were performed to examine the relationship between assessment components and final grades. Examiner variability, faculty workload, and the estimated effect of removing mini-CEX from grade calculations were also assessed. Results: Mini-CEX scores correlated weakly with the orthopedics practical grade and overall practical module grade, but showed no association with final clerkship grades. In regression analysis, theoretical and practical module scores showed the strongest associations with final performance, whereas mini-CEX showed no significant additional association after accounting for the other assessment components. Implementing mini-CEX for all students required an estimated 76-101 hours of faculty time. Removing mini-CEX from the grading model caused only a 0.09-point change in mean final scores and did not alter pass/fail outcomes. Conclusion: In this high-volume undergraduate orthopedic clerkship, mini-CEX had limited summative value despite its potential formative role. Its potential formative value warrants further investigation, alongside streamlined or digital approaches to improve implementation efficiency.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The study protocol was approved by the Trakya University Faculty of Medicine Scientific Research Ethics Committee (approval number: 15/07, 25.08.2025). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Orthopaedics, Medical Education

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Eşref Selçuk ^*
0000-0002-1657-1110
Türkiye

Cem Çopuroğlu
0000-0002-3884-3711
Türkiye

Mert Özcan
0000-0002-2009-1881
Türkiye

Murat Erem
0000-0002-9743-5515
Türkiye

Savaş Yıldırım
0000-0003-0677-4720
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 19, 2026

Submission Date

June 25, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 30, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 5

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1978723

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA37ET23JG

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Selçuk, E., Çopuroğlu, C., Özcan, M., Erem, M., & Yıldırım, S. (2026). Summative contribution, examiner variability, and faculty workload of the mini-CEX in an undergraduate orthopedic clerkship. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 9(5), 1503-1508. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1978723

AMA

1.Selçuk E, Çopuroğlu C, Özcan M, Erem M, Yıldırım S. Summative contribution, examiner variability, and faculty workload of the mini-CEX in an undergraduate orthopedic clerkship. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9(5):1503-1508. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1978723

Chicago

Selçuk, Eşref, Cem Çopuroğlu, Mert Özcan, Murat Erem, and Savaş Yıldırım. 2026. “Summative Contribution, Examiner Variability, and Faculty Workload of the Mini-CEX in an Undergraduate Orthopedic Clerkship”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 (5): 1503-8. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1978723.

EndNote

Selçuk E, Çopuroğlu C, Özcan M, Erem M, Yıldırım S (September 1, 2026) Summative contribution, examiner variability, and faculty workload of the mini-CEX in an undergraduate orthopedic clerkship. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 5 1503–1508.

IEEE

[1]E. Selçuk, C. Çopuroğlu, M. Özcan, M. Erem, and S. Yıldırım, “Summative contribution, examiner variability, and faculty workload of the mini-CEX in an undergraduate orthopedic clerkship”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 9, no. 5, pp. 1503–1508, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.1978723.

ISNAD

Selçuk, Eşref - Çopuroğlu, Cem - Özcan, Mert - Erem, Murat - Yıldırım, Savaş. “Summative Contribution, Examiner Variability, and Faculty Workload of the Mini-CEX in an Undergraduate Orthopedic Clerkship”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9/5 (September 1, 2026): 1503-1508. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1978723.

JAMA

1.Selçuk E, Çopuroğlu C, Özcan M, Erem M, Yıldırım S. Summative contribution, examiner variability, and faculty workload of the mini-CEX in an undergraduate orthopedic clerkship. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9:1503–1508.

MLA

Selçuk, Eşref, et al. “Summative Contribution, Examiner Variability, and Faculty Workload of the Mini-CEX in an Undergraduate Orthopedic Clerkship”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 9, no. 5, Sept. 2026, pp. 1503-8, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1978723.

Vancouver

1.Eşref Selçuk, Cem Çopuroğlu, Mert Özcan, Murat Erem, Savaş Yıldırım. Summative contribution, examiner variability, and faculty workload of the mini-CEX in an undergraduate orthopedic clerkship. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026 Sep. 1;9(5):1503-8. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1978723