The development, implementation and evaluation of a short course in Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) skills
Date
2011-03
Authors
De Villiers, Adele
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
Introduction: Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) examiner training is widely employed to address some of the reliability and validity issues that accompany the use of this assessment tool. An OSCE skills course was developed and implemented at the Stellenbosch Faculty of Health Sciences and the influence thereof on participants (clinicians) was evaluated.
Method: Participants attended the OSCE skills course which included theoretical sessions concerning topics such as standard-setting, examiner influence and assessment instruments, as well as two staged OSCEs, one at the beginning and the other at the end of the course. During the latter, each participant examined a student role-player performing a technical skill while being video recorded. Participants‟ behaviour and assessment results from the two OSCEs were evaluated, as well as the feedback from participants regarding the course and group interviews with student role players.
Results: There was a significant improvement in inter-rater reliability as well as a slight decrease in inappropriate examiner behaviour, such as teaching and prompting during assessment of students. Furthermore, overall feedback from participants and perceptions of student role-players was positive.
Discussion: In this study, examiner conduct and inter-rater reliability was positively influenced by the following interventions: examiner briefing; involvement of examiners in constructing assessment instruments as well as viewing (on DVD) and reflection, by examiners, of their assessment behaviour.
Conclusion: This study proposes that the development and implementation of an OSCE skills course is a worthwhile endeavour in improving validity and reliability of the OSCE as an assessment tool.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011.
Keywords
OSCE, Examiner training, Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Dissertations -- Obstetrics and gynaecology, Theses -- Obstetrics and gynaecology