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An objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) has been recognised as a reliable but workload-intensive assessment method across health sciences studies. Though a variety of digital marking tools have been employed to improve marking and feedback provision for OSCEs, many of these require specialist software or maintenance. This pilot study examines the development and trialling of Microsoft Forms as a marking and feedback instrument for an OSCE within a Sport and Exercise Therapy module. This study aims to assess whether the use of a non-specialist digital tool, such as Microsoft Forms, might be able overcome limitations in current assessment procedures and ultimately provide a more effective method for marking and feedback provision for an OSCE. Results from OSCE examiners (N = 8) and students (N = 30) who participated in the pilot indicate that Microsoft Forms does have the potential to provide a more effective experience for examiners and ultimately improve upon feedback provision for students when compared with a paper-based marking tool. However, concerns around the form's ease-of-use may ultimately influence its adoption as a marking instrument above current paper-based methods.

Background: The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a commonly used method for assessing clinical skills among nursing students. However, it often induces anxiety, which can impact student performance. This study aims to examine the effect of a simulated OSCE (MOCK OSCE) on reducing test anxiety and improving performance in nursing students during the OSCE.Method: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 65 first-year nursing students at Aligudarz Nursing School during the 2023-2024 academic years. Using a census sampling method, students were randomly assigned to two groups: an intervention group, which participated in a MOCK OSCE program (including test scenarios, feedback, and practical exercises), and a control group, which continued with the regular curriculum. Test anxiety was measured before and after the intervention using the Sarason Test Anxiety Scale, and OSCE performance scores were evaluated with standardized checklists. Data were analyzed with paired t-tests, independent t-tests, and ANOVA using SPSS version 23.Results: The results showed a significant decrease in test anxiety scores within the intervention group before and after the simulated OSCE (p

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) offers several opportunities for effective feedback to be given to students to improve their performance. This study aimed to evaluate the feedback practices following OSCE in the University of Port Harcourt (Uniport). This was descriptive research involving the administration of semi-structured questionnaires to examiners in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences and final year medical students in Uniport. Information sought centred on their perception of feedback practices following OSCE. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square. The result showed that 114 examiners participated in the study. There were 72 (63.16%) male and 42 (36.84%) female examiners with male to female ratio of 1.7:1. Ninety students participated in the study. There were 49 (54.44%) males and 41 (45.56%) females. Their mean age was 25.42±2.36. There were significant differences between the examiners and students perception of feedback practices following OSCE in Uniport in terms of whether (P=0.009) and when (P=0.0014) it is provided. Majority of the examiners (58.49%) and almost all the students (91.49%) reported that feedback resulted in improved performance. The stud y showed that about half of the students claimed that feedback is given following OSCE in Uniport. Feedback practice following OSCE in Uniport is satisfactory in some aspects and deficient in some other aspects. Incorporate quality feedback practices into the OSCE process in all medical schools will improve skills development and learning.

Introduction: The Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum, implemented in August 2019, emphasizes a comprehensive approach to learning, integrating cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains. To address the limitations of traditional assessment methods, the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) was introduced to reduce the bias. OSCE is now widely adopted as a gold standard for evaluating clinical skills due to its structured, objective approach and ability to minimize bias. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of MBBS fourth-year students regarding the OSCE in General Surgery at Al-Ameen Medical College. Materials and Methods: Conducted over six months, this cross-sectional study involved 144 out of 149 MBBS fourth-year students who participated in an OSCE consisting of six stations: two history-taking, two clinical examination, one with a simulated patient, one with a mannequin, one skill station, and one communication station. Students completed a questionnaire via Google Forms following the OSCE. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale and analysed using Microsoft Excel, with quantitative data expressed as means and standard deviations, and qualitative data as frequencies and percentages. Statistical significance was assessed using t-tests, with p

Background: Medical schools use different evaluation methods after students undergo a period of instruction for certification of acquisition of requisite skills and competencies required for registration. Despite a global trend towards adoption of OSCE format to test competencies, its adoption in medical schools in Nigeria has been relatively slow and local experiences with its use are limited. We describe the development and administration of OSCE for the formative assessment of undergraduate medical students of Kaduna state university at the end of paediatrics clinical rotation. Methodology: OSCE was developed and conducted to assess clinical skills of 20 undergraduate medical students at the end of clinical posting in paediatrics. Students rotated through a series of clinical encounters arranged in ten stations in a circuit, each for a short duration of five minutes. Clinical tasks were carefully chosen to reflect learning objectives of the posting using standardized patients while scoring was done using task-specific and validated checklists by the same assessors. Results: A range of clinical competencies in different clinical scenarios, including history taking, physical examination and basic clinical skills was examined using this format. The conduct was resource intensive with much time spent during the selection of the competencies and appropriate standardized patients to be tested, standardization of checklists, briefing assessors and choosing appropriate venue as well as preparation of stations. Unfamiliarity with OSCE by both some students and assessors was a major challenge. Conclusions: OSCE is a feasible way of assessing a wide range of clinical competencies of medical students during paediatric rotation in our setting.

This qualitative study aims to examine foundation year Master of Social Work (MSW) students' experiences with the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) using a holistic framework. Study participants included 64 MSW students who completed a 15-minute virtual OSCE with standardized patients and expert observers followed by a five minute debrief. In-depth student narratives about the experience were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Key themes emerged highlighting the value of practicing clinical skills, receiving immediate constructive feedback and honing skills in managing nervousness and developing confidence. Study implications include the critical need for MSW students as developing clinicians to rehearse clinical skills and receive feedback and the benefits of using the OSCE to expand field- and classroom-based learning.

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Abstract Background The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a systematic and structured assessment tool that evaluates candidates’ professional medical skills in a simulated environment through a series of time-limited stations. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the optimal station number and duration time per station of OSCE to achieve good reliability. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed and Embase from inception until August 2024, without language restrictions. Studies were included if they provided data on the station number and duration time of OSCE, along with Cronbach’s alpha. A random-effects model was used to pool the data. Results A total of 23 studies encompassing 26 Cronbach’s alpha were finally included. Cronbach’s alpha values ranged from 0.43 to 0.93, and 11 studies demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha ≥ 0.8). The analysis indicated that a design of 5–10 stations, with each station lasting less than 10 min, yielded the best internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.86, 1.00). Conclusions This meta-analysis suggests that the station number of OSCE falling in between 5 and 10, with each station time lasting no more than 10 min are likely to yield good reliability and strong internal consistency.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the popularization of information and communication technology in medical education. This study aimed to compare the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and the virtual objective structured clinical examination (vOSCE), based on expert opinion, as tools for assessing the competencies needed under medical curriculum guidelines in Brazil. Methods In this multicenter study, the suitability levels of the OSCE and vOSCE for assessing the competencies needed under the Brazilian National Curriculum Guidelines (DCNs) were compared. The DCNs encompass five groups of domains, namely, health education; general; health management; public health needs; and individual health needs. Sixteen teaching experts served as judges. They responded to a questionnaire with the provided Likert scores indicating the ability of the OSCE and vOSCE to assess each type of competency. Virtual meetings were held via the Delphi method and a focus group-based approach to enable the experts to reach a consensus. Results A total of 200 items included in the guidelines (100 for the OSCE and 100 for the vOSCE) were evaluated across a total of 3,200 responses. Analysis via the Likert scale revealed a high proportion of positive evaluations for the use of the vOSCE, with kappa values ​​ranging from 0.4 to 0.72. The values ​​of the absolute agreement (positive view) between examiners and equivalence with the kappa statistic for the adoption of the vOSCE ranged from 0.38 to 0.72. Via the use of virtual meetings (Delphi and focus groups), consensus was reached regarding the capacity of the OSCE and vOSCE to evaluate 97% and 92% of these items, respectively. Conclusion The vOSCE can be employed to assess relevant competencies. However, it faces limitations regarding 8% (8/100) of the items, and some items (3%) cannot be assessed via either method. The difference in results between the two assessment methodologies (OSCE and vOSCE) is 5%. It is necessary to invest in the creation of instruments that can be used to apply the vOSCE and to conduct cost‒benefit analysis of its broader application in health education institutions. We conclude that the vOSCE is an effective tool for assessing most competencies of medical professionals and students required under Brazilian guidelines.