Integrating behavioral assessment in instructional design for competency-based medical education

As institutions continuously strive to align with the standards set forth within competency-based medical education, there is an increased need to produce evidence of learner achievement in the form of observable behaviors. However, the complexity of healthcare education and clinical environments make it challenging to generate valid and reliable behavioral assessments. In this article, we utilize our interdisciplinary knowledge from the perspectives of experts in medical education, assessment, and academic administration to provide tips to successfully incorporate behavioral assessments into instructional designs. These include tips for identifying the best assessment methods fit for purpose, guiding instructors in establishing boundaries of assessment, managing instructors, selecting raters, generating behavioral assessment guides, training raters, ensuring logistics support assessment strategies, and fostering capacity for iteration. These can be used by institutions to improve planning and implementation for longitudinal behavioral assessments.

Update to RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment, 2-methyl-4-phenylbutyraldehyde, CAS Registry Number 40654-82-8

The existing information supports the use of this material as described in this safety assessment. 2-Methyl-4-phenylbutyraldehyde was evaluated for genotoxicity, repeated dose toxicity, reproductive toxicity, local respiratory toxicity, photoirritation/photoallergenicity, skin sensitization, and environmental safety. Data from read-across analog β-methyl-benzenepentanal (CAS # 55,066-49-4) show that 2-methyl-4-phenylbutyraldehyde is not expected to be genotoxic and provide a calculated Margin of Exposure (MOE) > 100 for the repeated dose toxicity endpoint. Data on read-across analog phenylacetaldehyde (CAS # 122-78-1) provide a calculated MOE >100 for the reproductive toxicity endpoint. Data show that there are no safety concerns for 2-methyl-4-phenylbutyraldehyde for skin sensitization under the current declared levels of use. The photoirritation/photoallergenicity endpoints were evaluated based on ultraviolet/visible (UV/Vis) spectra; 2-methyl-4-phenylbutyraldehyde is not expected to be photoirritating/photoallergenic. The local respiratory toxicity endpoint was evaluated using the Threshold of Toxicological Concern (TTC) for a Cramer Class I material, and the exposure to 2-methyl-4-phenylbutyraldehyde is below the TTC (1.4 mg/day). The environmental endpoints were evaluated; 2-methyl-4-phenylbutyraldehyde was found not to be Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic (PBT) as per the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) Environmental Standards, and its risk quotients, based on its current volume of use (VoU) in Europe and North America (i.e., Predicted Environmental Concentration/Predicted No Effect Concentration [PEC/PNEC]), are <1.