Dental students' perception of objective structured clinical examination (OSCE): a cross-sectional study

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is increasingly used to assess clinical competence in dental education. Understanding students' perceptions of this assessment method is essential for improving its design and educational impact, particularly in fixed prosthodontics.

To assess dental students' perceptions of OSCEs in Fixed Prosthodontics.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2025 at the Department of Fixed Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Tunisia. Final-year dental students (n = 144) who completed a fixed prosthodontics OSCE were invited to participate. Data were collected anonymously using a structured online questionnaire administered via Google Forms and QR code. The questionnaire assessed students' perceptions of the OSCE in terms of clarity of instructions, organization, and stress level. Participation was voluntary.

A total of 144 final-year dental students completed the questionnaire. The response rate was 100%. The majority of respondents (87%) reported that the OSCE content and instructions were clearly explained. Similarly, 87.5% indicated that they felt comfortable with the examiners before the examination. Regarding time allocation, 36.1% of students reported a neutral perception, while 11.8% indicated that the time available at certain stations was insufficient. In terms of stress, 65.9% of respondents described the OSCE as moderately stressful. With respect to perceived difficulty, most students reported greater difficulty in the cognitive station (43.1%), followed by the communication and behavioural station (33.3%). Finally, 93% of respondents reported that the competencies assessed during the OSCE were aligned with the objectives of their clinical training.

This study shows that students perceived the OSCE as an appropriate assessment method for clinical skills in fixed prosthodontics. They were generally satisfied with its clarity and organisation. However, they reported that some aspects should be improved, such as the timing and stress management.