Introduction

The Núcleo de Apoio Pedagógico Interinstitucional Sul II (Napisul II) was established in August 2010 with the support of the Brazilian Association of Medical Education (Abem) with the specific purpose of formulating, implementing and analyzing the progress test.

Objective

To verify whether the results of the progress test can be used as an indicator to improve the degree course in medicine.

Methods

We performed three cross-sectional studies of institutional households during the three years of the application of the test in the medical school at the University of Extremo Sul Catarinense (Unesc), South Brazil. All participants in the study were undergraduate students in medicine at the Unesc who had taken the progress test in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Statistical analysis was performed with a 95% confidence level.

Results

Mean adherence over the three years ranged from 91.8% to 100%. In 2011, the medical program at the Unesc ranked equal to or above the average for the eight Napisul II schools until the eighth stage and ranked below average in the fifth and sixth years. In 2012, the Unesc again was ranked in the average range until the seventh stage. In the eighth stage, the Unesc’s ranking was significantly higher than the overall average, and thus, in the fifth year, the school was on par with the group average. However, in the sixth year, the school’s ranking was significantly below average. In 2013, Unesc was again ranked in the middle of the group until the eighth phase, and in the last three phases, the school was ranked above average.

Conclusion

The progress test is an excellent indicator for managers, as it can be used to develop interventions to improve the quality of the courses. After the first test was administered and changes in the school’s courses were implemented, subsequent tests demonstrated the effectiveness of the changes.

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