Optimizing Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Medicine Course Grading System by Spreadsheet Software

Abstract

Background: Complex processes in grading system occasionally delay time-to-report and affect the accuracy of the report in Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Medicine Course.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of spreadsheet software in the grading processes of the Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Medicine Course.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Orthopaedics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. Exam scores of the 5th year medical students between 2014 and 2018 were collected. This study included complete summative data and excluded any data from repeated examinations. The effectiveness of grading system using spreadsheet software was evaluated the primary outcome as time-to-report (days) and accuracy of grade reports.

Results: There were 893 students from 5 academic years, median duration of grade reports was 2.5 days (range, 0 - 30). Grade reports were 100% accurate. The analysis showed the longest duration of time-to-report was in 2014 with median 10.5 days (range, 0 - 30), and the shortest duration was in 2018 with median 0 day (range, 0 - 4). During 5 consecutive years, the spreadsheet software can reduce time-to-report significantly (P = .01).

Conclusions: Spreadsheet software is an effective method to reduce time-to-report and reporting errors in grading system.