Library resource guides: Anaesthesia training resources: Patient Clinical Interaction Assessment (PCIA)

Guide index

PCIA guidance documents

For assessors and heads of department (HoD).

The Patient Clinical Interaction Assessment: Implementation Guide by Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
Publication Date: v1.0 - December 2024

This guide is part of the PCIA resources pack and is available to anaesthesia trainees, SIMGs and members of Anaesthesia Departments to support implementation of the PCIA in hospitals and health services.

PCIA: Self Assessment Survey for Clinical Departments
This self-assessment tool has been developed to assist Anaesthesia Departments to prepare and plan to host the PCIA in 2025 and to identify areas where the College can support this.
PCIA Assessor Position Description
This document outlines the selection appointment process and responsibilities of the PCIA Assessor role.
PCIA Assessor Agreement Form
This form must be completed by potential PCIA assessors.

For trainees and assessors.

Trainees/SIMGs should study Chapter 4: The medical vivas.

PCIA: Anaesthesia Training Program Curriculum Learning Outcomes
LOs pertaining to the PCIA.
PCIA: Example - Systems and diseases
Assess the severity of and provide perioperative care for patients with a range of medical conditions, consulting and managing collaboratively when appropriate.
PCIA: Example - Aortic Stenosis

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Patient Clinical Interaction Assessment (PCIA) [Learn@ANZCA]
The patient clinical interaction assessment (PCIA) is an assessment undertaken in the workplace that may be completed anytime during advanced training (AT) in the ANZCA Anaesthesia Training Program and by specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs) on the exam pathway. All SIMGs that are required to complete the examination, are required to successfully complete the patient clinical interaction assessment after a satisfactory CPA report covering at least three months prior to applying for fellowship.

Additional information

ANZCA: PCIA - Replacing the former patient interaction component of the Final Exam Medical Viva [ARCHIVED]
In 2025, the patient interaction component of the final exam medical viva will be re-introduced as the patient clinical interaction assessment (PCIA).
ANZCA: Patient Clinical Interaction Assessment (PCIA): Updated information [ARCHIVED]
In March 2024 the patient clinical interaction assessment (PCIA) was communicated to stakeholders as a news item on the ANZCA website, which was also promoted through the ANZCA training e-newsletter.
ANZCA: Patient Clinical Interaction Assessment FAQs
The Patient Clinical Interaction Assessment (PCIA) is being introduced in 2025 following Council’s endorsement in 2023 of recommendations presented by the PCIA Working Group to address the gap left when the patient clinical interaction was removed from the medical viva (in 2020).

PCIA assessment resources

For trainees and assessors.

PCIA: Logistics and Patient Eligibility Checklist
Please complete this checklist prior to commencing any assessment.
PCIA: Patient Consent Guide
Privacy Legislation considerations.
PCIA: Patient Consent Form
PCIA assessors should obtain consent for their role and on behalf of specialist anaesthetists in training or SIMGs.
PCIA: Briefing Guide
Briefing guide for PCIA assessors. Covers: Briefing the patient, Briefing the trainee or SIMG, and Commencing the assessment.
PCIA: Entrustment Scale and Scoring Guide
A copy of this document should be filed in the department and made available to the trainee/SIMG on request but is not required to be uploaded to the TPS.
PCIA: Feedback Discussion Form
After scoring has been completed by the PCIA Assessor, the assessor should invite the trainee to have a conversation about the assessment, the purpose of which educational. A minimum of 20-30 minutes should be set aside for this component.
PCIA: Summary Sheet
Upon completion, please provide this summary sheet to the primary SOT.