Student Performance on an Objective Structured Clinical Exam Delivered Both Virtually and In-Person

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Medical Simulation
• Assessment Methods

Background:

• The milestone objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a mandatory graduation requirement for pharmacy students.
• In 2021, the OSCE was simultaneously offered in virtual and in-person formats, allowing student choice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare student performance in virtual versus in-person OSCE formats.
• To identify factors influencing student selection of the OSCE format.

Main Methods:

• Performance data (exam averages, pass rates) were analyzed using independent t tests and chi-squared analysis.
• Academic history was assessed for prediction of format choice.
• Student and personnel surveys captured feedback on both OSCE formats.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in overall exam averages or pass rates were observed between virtual and in-person OSCE participants.
• Virtual exam-takers scored lower on 2 out of 7 individual cases.
• Prior academic performance did not predict format choice; however, virtual participants reported technical difficulties and navigation issues.

Conclusions:

• Virtual and in-person OSCE administration yielded comparable student performance.
• Slightly lower scores in specific cases with virtual delivery suggest areas for improvement.
• Findings can guide the future design and implementation of virtual OSCEs.