Objective Structured Clinical Examinations: a guide to development and implementation in orthopaedic residency.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Competency Assessment

Background:

• Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are widely used in medical education for skill evaluation.
• The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandates core competency assessment for orthopaedic surgery residents via the Milestone Project.
• Decreased resident work hours necessitate efficient and objective skill assessment methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a method for developing a successful OSCE for orthopaedic surgical resident training.
• To ensure consistent and objective evaluation of residents' clinical skills.
• To provide a tool for residents to develop and practice essential surgical competencies.

Main Methods:

• Development of a structured OSCE protocol tailored for orthopaedic surgery.
• Integration of simulation models for objective skills assessment.
• Alignment of OSCEs with ACGME core competencies and the Milestone Project.

Main Results:

• The described method facilitates the creation of a reliable OSCE for orthopaedic residency.
• OSCEs provide objective data on resident skill progression.
• Simulation models enhance the accuracy and consistency of resident evaluations.

Conclusions:

• OSCEs are essential for standardized assessment in orthopaedic surgery residency.
• Simulation-based OSCEs are vital for evaluating core competencies effectively.
• This method supports the development of a robust OSCE program for surgical trainees.