The Taiwan Association of Medical Education has launched a

nationwide trial examination for medical interns in measuring their clinical performance, marking the first time prospective doctors will be graded based on their interpersonal skills with their future patients.

As many as 1,056 medical interns around the island took part in the Taiwan Association of Medical Education's inaugural "Objective Structured Clinical Examination" practice test.

Licensed physicians served as supervisors, and graded the test-takers based on their interaction with patients.

The test consisted of a series of different scenarios, with 280 pre-trained volunteers posing as patients. It is hoped that through the exercise, the interns would be better equipped to communicate with the patients and understand their needs.

The entire process will likely be incorporated into the official medical exams next year to make sure that future physicians can put the medical ethics education they've received into practice.

While practicing doctors generally welcome the change, details of implementation are still under discussion by the authorities.