Improved detection of patient centeredness in objective structured clinical examinations through authentic scenario design.

<bold>Objective: </bold>In current objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), simulated encounters lacking realism reduce authenticity of assessment as students can take the OSCEs with a search-and-scan approach and trained empathy. Accordingly, patient-centeredness, the fundamental goal of OSCE, is not well assessed. This study evaluated the effect of a change in the OSCE scenario and checklist with respect to detecting students' patient-centeredness.<bold>Methods: </bold>A scenario script for valid representation of a real clinical encounter was developed and defined as authenticated scenario. The OSCE scores and the measure of patient-centered communication (MPCC) scores of 79 medical students were compared between the two OSCE stations, one using the traditional scenario and another using the authenticated scenario.<bold>Results: </bold>The MPCC total score was higher in the OSCE station using the authenticated scenario than that of the traditional scenario (p < 0.001). For the OSCE scores, the patient satisfaction score and the patient-physician interaction score were higher in the station using the authenticated scenario than the traditional one (p < 0.001).<bold>Conclusion: </bold>The OSCE station using the authenticated scenario better detected medical student level of patient-centeredness.<bold>Practice Implications: </bold>Strengthening the authenticity of the OSCE scenario is critical for detecting the medical students' levels of patient-centeredness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]