Why do physicians volunteer to be OSCE examiners?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Training
• Assessment Methods

Background:

• Recruiting physician examiners for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) presents significant challenges.
• Understanding examiner motivations is crucial for improving recruitment and retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the primary reasons why physicians volunteer as examiners for various OSCE formats.
• To identify factors influencing examiner satisfaction, particularly comparing different examination types.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire utilizing a 5-point Likert scale was administered to 110 OSCE examiners.
• Participants included examiners from a fourth-year student OSCE (SO), internal medicine OSCE (IM), and the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Exam Part II (MCCQE II).

Main Results:

• High mean ratings were observed for enjoying the examiner role (4.05), gaining insights into learner abilities (4.27), and fulfilling a sense of duty (4.10).
• Examiners participating in the MCCQE II reported significantly higher ratings (p<0.05).
• Providing feedback and Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits were not significant drivers of examiner satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Physicians volunteer as OSCE examiners driven by personal enjoyment, professional duty, and the opportunity to observe learner development.
• The MCCQE II examination appears to offer a more valued experience for its examiners.
• Strategies to enhance examiner recruitment should focus on the intrinsic rewards of the role rather than external incentives like CME credits.