The objective structured clinical examination in undergraduate psychiatry

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Psychiatry Assessment
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is increasingly utilized in medical education.
• There is a need to validate the psychometric properties of OSCE, particularly in psychiatry.
• Limited research exists on OSCE's reliability and validity in diverse healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the practicability and psychometric attributes of the OSCE for undergraduate psychiatry assessment in Nigeria.
• To evaluate the reliability and criterion-based validity of OSCE over a six-year period.
• To highlight the significance of student feedback and explore other factors influencing OSCE performance.

Main Methods:

• A six-year observational study was conducted in Nigeria.
• Data collection involved the administration of OSCE to undergraduate psychiatry students.
• Psychometric analyses were performed to determine reliability and validity.

Main Results:

• The OSCE was found to be practicable for undergraduate psychiatry assessment in Nigeria.
• Consistent evidence of satisfactory reliability and criterion-based validity was observed over consecutive years.
• Student feedback was identified as crucial for evaluating examination quality.

Conclusions:

• The OSCE is a reliable and valid assessment tool for undergraduate psychiatry training in Nigeria.
• Student feedback is essential for refining OSCE and ensuring its quality.
• Further research should investigate the impact of social interaction and personality traits on OSCE performance.