The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in Periodontology with Simulated Patient: The Most Realistic...

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are increasingly used in dental schools.
• Simulated patients enhance OSCEs by mirroring real clinical practice.
• OSCEs with simulated patients can be implemented before or after clinical training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a periodontology station using a simulated patient for a fifth-year dentistry OSCE.
• To assess student perceptions of this simulated patient OSCE station.

Main Methods:

• Development of a periodontology OSCE station with a simulated patient.
• Administration of a questionnaire to fifth-year dental students to gather feedback.
• Analysis of student perceptions regarding the station's characteristics.

Main Results:

• Fifth-year dental students positively evaluated the simulated patient periodontology OSCE station.
• Students expressed a preference for simulated patients over clinical cases, images, X-rays, or presentations in OSCEs.
• Feedback post-OSCE is crucial for student improvement.

Conclusions:

• Simulated patients are a valuable tool for assessing dental students' clinical and patient management skills in OSCEs.
• Student feedback indicates a preference for interactive, simulated patient-based assessments.
• Effective feedback mechanisms are essential for optimizing learning outcomes following OSCEs.