Comparison of Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) Versus Conventional Pathology Practical Examination...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Pathology Practical Skills Assessment

Background:

• India's medical education is transitioning to Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME).
• Traditional pathology practical assessments are subjective and lack direct performance observation.
• Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) offers a more objective alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of OSPE versus conventional methods for assessing pathology practical skills.
• To evaluate student and faculty perceptions of OSPE.

Main Methods:

• Second-year medical students were assessed using both conventional and OSPE methods for haemoglobin estimation and blood grouping.
• 89 out of 104 students participated in both assessment formats.
• Student and faculty perceptions were gathered using prevalidated questionnaires.

Main Results:

• OSPE yielded significantly higher mean scores (8.43 ± 1.41) compared to conventional methods (6.91 ± 1.08) (p > 0.001).
• Students' perceptions favored the OSPE format over traditional examinations.
• The study demonstrated a significant difference in scores, favoring OSPE.

Conclusions:

• OSPE is a more objective and effective method for assessing pathology practical skills.
• The OSPE format is better perceived by students, leading to higher scores.
• Implementing OSPE as a formative assessment tool can enhance teaching-learning strategies in medical education.