Reaching Consensus on Measuring Professional Behaviour in Physical Therapy Objective Structured Clinical Examinations

We determined which professional behaviours (PBs) are important and feasible to measure in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) intended to assess the hands-on skills and knowledge of students in a Canadian physical therapy (PT) program. We used a modified Delphi technique to identify the criteria required to assess PBs in PT students during an OSCE. We conducted a focus group to better understand the results of the modified Delphi process. Experienced local OSCE examiners participated in the modified Delphi panel, which consisted of two rounds of surveys: round 1 (n=12) and round 2 (n=10). A total of 31 PBs were reduced to 18 through the two rounds. Five of the panellists participated in the focus group, reduced the 18 PBs to 15, and then identified 4 as clinical skills. Participants categorized the remaining 11 as mixed PBs and clinical skills (1 item), PBs (4 items), or communication skills (6 items). This study provides preliminary evidence to support the feasibility and importance of evaluating 5 PB items in practical skills OSCEs for entry-to-practice PT students.