Table 3 Coding and scoring scheme used in the study
Coding scheme | Scoring scheme | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Question | Category | Sub-category | Score awarded |
Suggesting a method for sterilizing: (a) A solution of vitamins (b) Contaminated hospital linen (c) Petri dishes and giving a reason for the method used (maximum score = 3) | Correct (C) | (a) Correctly identified filtration as the suitable sterilization technique citing the property of vitamins to get denatured upon exposure to heat as the reason for choosing this method. | 1 |
(b) Correctly identified autoclaving as the suitable sterilization technique and considered the bulk of the material to be sterilized. | 1 | ||
(c) Correctly identified autoclaving or hot air oven as the suitable sterilization technique citing that high temperature would lead to denaturation of the proteins of microorganisms resulting in their death. | 1 | ||
Partially correct (PC) | Either one of the correct method or a relevant consideration in choosing a method identified | 0.5 each for (a), (b), and (c) | |
Incorrect (IC) | Incorrect method | 0 | |
Incorrect method, reason correct | 0 | ||
Incorrect reason, method correct | 0 | ||
Unrelated | – | 0 | |
Not attempted (NA) | – | 0 | |
Mathematical problem (maximum score = 2) | Correct (C) | Identified exponential growth of the organism and calculated the number of cells correctly | 2 |
Partially correct (PC) | Exponential growth of E.coli identified correctly but arithmetical errors made | 0.5 | |
Incorrect (IC) | Microbial growth considered to be linear | 0 | |
Unrelated (U) | Random calculation with use of unjustifiable and unexplained numbers | 0 | |
Not attempted (NA) | – | 0 | |
Doctor’s procedure (maximum score = 3) | Correct (C) | Burns patient is at a higher risk of infection + technique not sufficient + method of sterilization suggested | 1 + 1 + 1 |
Partially correct (PC) | Any 1 of the above points mentioned | 1 | |
Burn patient is at a high risk of infection + technique not sufficient | 1 + 1 | ||
Burn patient is at a high risk of infection + sterilization needs to be done | 1 + 1 | ||
Technique used by doctor is not sufficient + sterilization needed | 1 + 1 | ||
Incorrect (IC) | Doctor followed the correct procedure | 0 | |
Unrelated (U) | Random answers unrelated to the question | 0 | |
Not attempted (NA) | – | 0 | |