A system of performance intervention zones for use during student evaluation in the clinical environment

SummaryIn order to support decision making during comprehensive clinical examinations involving patient care, a system of performance intervention zones was developed and implemented. The aims of the system were to assist examiners in deciding when to intervene during a clinical examination, to facilitate consistency in decision making, and to create the basis and language for shared understanding of examinee performance.The system was recently utilized in Ontario during assessment of internationally educated massage therapists in relation to provincially set competency standards. Feedback from examiners suggested that the system of intervention zones was effective in achieving the specified aims, and on the basis of this preliminary field test, further work is being planned in order to establish the reliability of the system.