prepOSCE: A Virtual, Scalable Solution to Prepare Residents for Their OSCE Examination

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Neurology Certification
• Virtual Learning Environments

Background:

• Canadian neurologists require certification through the Royal College Comprehensive Objective Examination, which includes a challenging Observed Structured Clinical Encounter (OSCE).
• Neurology residents face significant time constraints for exam preparation due to demanding clinical work hours.
• Existing preparation methods for the OSCE are insufficient to meet resident needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate the efficacy of a novel virtual preparation program, prepOSCE, for the neurology certification OSCE.
• To assess resident and evaluator satisfaction with the virtual preparation program.
• To determine the perceived value and relevance of prepOSCE for neurology residents' studies.

Main Methods:

• A proprietary virtual solution from CTC Communications Corp. was utilized to create the prepOSCE program.
• Ten virtual sessions were conducted, accommodating 70 neurology residents.
• Case scenarios were developed by Canadian physicians, and participants were surveyed post-session.

Main Results:

• The prepOSCE program achieved an average resident rating of 4.22/5 and an average evaluator rating of 4.35/5.
• 92% of participating residents recommended the program, found it relevant, and believed it added value.
• The positive feedback indicates a strong need for such virtual preparation tools.

Conclusions:

• The virtual prepOSCE program is an effective and well-received method for preparing neurology residents for their certification OSCE.
• The program's success suggests a need for similar virtual preparation models in other medical specialties.
• The prepOSCE model demonstrates potential for expansion and wider application in medical education.