Impact of a Simulated Mini-CEX on Clinical Performance During a Real-World Mini-CEX

Modern medical education is based on competency-based learning and the use of formative assessment tools in real clinical settings, such as the Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (mini-CEX). However, the impact of a prior simulated mini-CEX experience on subsequent performance in real clinical settings remains insufficiently studied, particularly among medical students in anesthesiology-intensive care (DCEM3). This study aimed to assess the effect of a simulated mini-CEX on performance during a real mini-CEX in pre-anesthetic consultation.

Inclusion Criteria: * Fifth-year medical students (DCEM3) enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis within the acute medicine program. * Students completing their clinical clerkship during the second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year in one of the three participating anesthesiology and intensive care departments. * Students who voluntarily agree to participate and have provided written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Students who do not complete the entire educational curriculum (absence from either of the two assessments). * Students who have already received similar training.