Abstract: Objective To assess the capability of senior residents in clinical competency, and to compare the difference between examiner grading and examinee grading. Methods 44 third year residents attended the oral examination in 2018 and 2019. The oral exam lasted 20 minutes covering questions from preoperative evaluation, intraoperative management, and to postoperative management. Two examiners participated in the oral exam. Results The examiners gave the grading of 3.54±0.72 for majority of the time, and gave the grading of 3.34±0.94 for minority of the time. The residents showed the best ability in oral communication skills appropriate for level in residency, and showed the poorest ability in being able to adapt to changes in the clinical situation 3.28±0.77 and understanding advantages and disadvantages of alternative management strategies 3.29±0.73. The examinee gave the grading of 3.17±0.63 for majority of the time, and gave the grading of 3.09±1.12 for minority of the time. The residents evaluated themselves the highest score in communicates information logically and effectively 3.34±0.81, and evaluated themselves the lowest score in being able to adapt to changes in the clinical situation 3.07±0.70 and understanding advantages and disadvantages of alternative management strategies 2.84±0.75. Most of the residents (73%) reached the score equal or more than 3. Examinees intended to underrate themselves significantly(P＜0.05). Conclusions Most of the third year residents showed appropriate clinical competence acquired for this stage. Residents in anesthesia should practice more in understanding advantages and disadvantages of alternative management strategies and in being able to adapt to changes in the clinical situation. To improve the clinical competence, practice oral examinations should be instituted in the resident training programs in China.

Key words: anesthesiology, oral examination, resident, evaluation, self-evaluation