Performance assessment tool:
PSYCHIATRY MINI CLINICAL
EVALUATION EXERCISE
This tool is the property of the Medical Council of New Zealand, and may be used only with the permission of the Council.
DM1224540
September 2014
Observing the doctor with patients
Objective
The objective is to assess the doctor’s clinical (including communication) skills and attitudes to
patients through observing consultations, by using a “Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise” (Mini CEX)
rating form.
Contents
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
Instructions
Mini CEX rating form.
Instructions
When you make the assessment arrangements with the doctor prior to the visit, allow 1.5 hours for
the assessors to sit in on consultations. Ideally the doctor should see a minimum of one new patient
with two return patients. If there is concern that the new patient will withdraw consent or not arrive
it may be expedient that a second, back up case is arranged and this case is seen by a colleague if the
first patient arrives. Cases should be of varying complexity (at least one case should be of high
complexity requiring multidisciplinary input). The observations should be shared between the
assessors, but sometimes two assessors could be present at one consultation.
Each assessor should use the Mini CEX form to rate each consultation.
Patients should be contacted a day or so prior to the day of assessment to enquire if they are willing
to have an observer present. Patients thus have warning and the chances of booked patients not
allowing the assessors to be present are reduced. When patients arrive the receptionist should give
the consent form to patients to sign. These are included in your pack.
DM1224540
September 2014
Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini CEX): 1
Brief description of the case:
Please indicate the activity in which the assessment has taken place
Assessment of a psychiatric emergency (acute psychosis)
Clinical review
Assessment of response to treatment
Management of a low
prevalence psychiatric
condition
Assessment of high prevalence psychiatric condition
Assessment of a low prevalence psychiatric condition
Management of a severe
and enduring mental illness
Assessment of a severe and enduring mental illness
Assessment of a psychiatric emergency (suicidal feelings and
acts)
Management of a
psychiatric emergency
(suicidal feelings and acts)
Management of a psychiatric emergency (acute psychosis)
Obtaining informed consent
Management of a high prevalence psychiatric condition
Other (specify):
UNSATISFACTORY
1
2
3
SATISFACTORY
4
5
6
SUPERIOR
7
8
9
u/c
History taking process
History taking content
Mental state examination skills
Physical examination skills
Communication skills
Data synthesis
Organisation/efficiency
Comment on features of this case not otherwise captured:
DM1224540
September 2014
Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini CEX): 2
Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise
Encounter information
Brief description of the case:
Please indicate the activity in which the assessment has taken place
Assessment of a psychiatric emergency (acute psychosis)
Clinical review
Assessment of response to treatment
Management of a low
prevalence psychiatric
condition
Assessment of high prevalence psychiatric condition
Assessment of a low prevalence psychiatric condition
Management of a severe
and enduring mental illness
Assessment of a severe and enduring mental illness
Assessment of a psychiatric emergency (suicidal feelings and
acts)
Management of a
psychiatric emergency
(suicidal feelings and acts)
Management of a psychiatric emergency (acute psychosis)
Obtaining informed consent
Management of a high prevalence psychiatric condition
Other (specify):
UNSATISFACTORY
1
2
3
SATISFACTORY
4
5
6
SUPERIOR
7
8
9
u/c
History taking process
History taking content
Mental state examination skills
Physical examination skills
Communication skills
Data synthesis
Organisation/efficiency
DM1224540
September 2014
Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini CEX): 3
Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise
Encounter information
Brief description of the case:
Please indicate the activity in which the assessment has taken place
Assessment of a psychiatric emergency (acute psychosis)
Clinical review
Assessment of response to treatment
Management of a low
prevalence psychiatric
condition
Assessment of high prevalence psychiatric condition
Assessment of a low prevalence psychiatric condition
Management of a severe
and enduring mental illness
Assessment of a severe and enduring mental illness
Assessment of a psychiatric emergency (suicidal feelings and
acts)
Management of a
psychiatric emergency
(suicidal feelings and acts)
Management of a psychiatric emergency (acute psychosis)
Obtaining informed consent
Management of a high prevalence psychiatric condition
Other (specify):
UNSATISFACTORY
1
2
3
SATISFACTORY
4
5
6
SUPERIOR
7
8
9
u/c
History taking process
History taking content
Mental state examination skills
Physical examination skills
Communication skills
Data synthesis
Organisation/efficiency
DM1224540
September 2014
Mini Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini CEX): 4
Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise
Encounter information
Brief description of the case:
Please indicate the activity in which the assessment has taken place
Assessment of a psychiatric emergency (acute psychosis)
Clinical review
Assessment of response to treatment
Management of a low
prevalence psychiatric
condition
Assessment of high prevalence psychiatric condition
Assessment of a low prevalence psychiatric condition
Management of a severe
and enduring mental illness
Assessment of a severe and enduring mental illness
Assessment of a psychiatric emergency (suicidal feelings and
acts)
Management of a
psychiatric emergency
(suicidal feelings and acts)
Management of a psychiatric emergency (acute psychosis)
Obtaining informed consent
Management of a high prevalence psychiatric condition
Other (specify):
UNSATISFACTORY
1
2
3
SATISFACTORY
4
5
6
SUPERIOR
7
8
9
u/c
History taking process
History taking content
Mental state examination skills
Physical examination skills
Communication skills
Data synthesis
Organisation/efficiency
DM1224540
September 2014