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An objective structured clinical examination for evaluating psychiatric clinical clerks
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Ontario, Canada. brian.hodges@utoronto.ca
Summary
This study found that the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a feasible and reliable method for assessing psychiatric clinical skills. The OSCE demonstrated reliability and was more enjoyable for students and faculty compared to previous oral examinations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Psychiatry
- Assessment Methods
Background:
- Traditional oral examinations in psychiatry are time-consuming.
- There is a need for reliable and valid assessment tools for psychiatric clerkships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility, reliability, and validity of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) for psychiatric clinical clerks.
- To compare the OSCE to previous oral examination methods.
Main Methods:
- Two parallel forms of a ten-station OSCE were developed, including clinical and writing stations.
- Each station was evaluated by faculty psychiatrists using checklists and global ratings.
- Standardized patients (SPs) were utilized in the clinical stations.
Main Results:
- The OSCE was administered to 192 clerks across three administrations.
- Mean scores for the two forms were 70.47% and 67.66%.
- The OSCE identified critical incidents related to professional conduct and was more cost-effective than oral exams.
Conclusions:
- The psychiatry OSCE is a feasible method for assessing complex psychiatric skills.
- Careful attention to SP training, monitoring, and feedback is crucial for OSCE success.
- The OSCE offers demonstrable reliability and improved satisfaction for both students and faculty.