Virtually prepared! Student-led online clinical assessment

The transition of medical education from a face-to-face to virtual setting due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions has been challenging. While both students and educators have now somewhat settled into new teaching methods, from Zoom™ lectures to online tutorials, the adaption of clinical skills teaching to the virtual setting has lagged behind. As a result, many students have been left feeling anxious and concerned about practicing practical and communication skills that are central to being a competent and safe doctor. In light of this, medical students at the Queen's University Belfast General Practice (GP) Society organised a series of virtual, mock Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) for students in Years 2-5 conducted via Zoom™. Medical students and doctors acted as examiners and simulated patients (SPs) with 'breakout rooms' being used to simulate distinct OSCE stations. This collaborative project was well received by participants and doctors alike, who found the virtual OSCEs improved their confidence in performing key clinical skills and virtual consultations. As medical students ourselves, we gained early career exposure to designing and delivering assessments and developed transferable skills, relevant both to medicine and teaching. Lastly, the peer-led approach disrupted the traditional hierarchy in medical education. Students are a key, and often overlooked, resource to overcoming challenges in medical education and educators should encourage students to become involved in medical education at an early stage in their careers.