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Understanding students' self-efficacy and motivation in sequential OSCE: a qualitative study.
Jun Jie Lim1, Chris Roberts2, Shareen Nisha Jauhar Ali3
1Division of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine and Population Health, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. jj.lim@sheffield.ac.uk.
Sequential Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) impact medical student motivation and engagement. Understanding student perceptions is key to optimizing this assessment format for better learning outcomes and well-being.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Clinical Assessment
- Psychology in Medicine
Background:
- The UK Medical Licensing Assessment (UKMLA) necessitates efficient clinical competence evaluation.
- Sequential Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are increasingly adopted for this purpose.
- Little is known about student experiences with sequential OSCEs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore psychological and contextual factors influencing medical students' self-efficacy, motivation, and engagement in sequential OSCEs.
- To understand student interpretations of the sequential OSCE format.
Main Methods:
- Semi-structured interviews with 22 medical students post-sequential OSCEs.
- Framework analysis informed by self-efficacy and attribution theory.
Main Results:
- Positive self-efficacy sources include practice, modeling, communication, and timely feedback.
- Negative influences involve uncertainty, distress, unclear thresholds, and delayed feedback.
- Perception of sequential testing (developmental vs. punitive) impacts confidence, anxiety, and motivation, revealing an anxiety-achievement paradox.
Conclusions:
- Sequential OSCEs can enhance learning with transparent communication, equitable resources, and supportive feedback.
- Addressing emotional and motivational aspects improves educational value and student well-being in high-stakes assessments.
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