Students’ response to implementation of ‘OSPE’ as a tool for assessment of practical skills of undergraduates in the subject of anatomy

Introduction: For evaluating the practical knowledge of the students, objective structured practical examination (OSPE) has been used as a tool several times. The assessment of the student’s potential in different ways is a part of medical education. The practical examination is a typical method of assessment of practical and clinical skills but it lacks an assessment of the psychomotor and communication skills of the student. OSPE formats address these lacunae of the current system. However, it is necessary to assess the OSPE from a student’s perspective. The current study is designed to obtain the student’s opinion regarding OSPE as a tool of assessment in practical examinations. Aims and Objectives: To determine the opinion of students about OSPE as a tool among1st -year medical undergraduates to assess the teaching-learning process in anatomy. Materials and Methods: 150 first-year undergraduates of competency-based medical education (CBME) batch of 2019–20 from the Department of Anatomy of MGM Medical College, Aurangabad, India were chosen for assessing practical skills. A structured questionnaire was designed and distributed among them to collect the required data to assess students’ evaluation of the OSPE. Results and Observations: A total of 150 questionnaires were filled by students with a 90% response rate. The majority of the students favored the inclusion of OSPEas as an assessment tool in the final examinations. Conclusion: The study reveals that the majority of the students (68%) have found OSPE as an acceptable tool. The OSPE is reliable for formative as well as a summative assessment for undergraduate medical students.

Anatomic Variations In The Middle Cerebral Artery In Human Cadavers

Introduction: Middle cereal artery (MCAis the largest anch among all the anches of internal carotid artery,abnormal development of which in the emyonic period can lead to developmental anomalies of the cereal arteries. The present study was aimed to describe the anatomical variations in the MCA in the formalin preserved ains of human cadavers. Methodology: This study was conducted in the Department of Anatomy, Mahatama Gandhi Mission Medical College, Aurangabad in which 50 formalin preserved specimens of ain were dissected. We carefully dissected the MCA on either side from its origin to its termination and its course was traced through the lateral cereal fissure. We carefully and delicately separated the arterial networks of the Circle of Willis along with the MCA of both sides and using a verniercaliper the dimensions of the MCA were measured. Results:In all specimens, MCA originated from the internal carotid artery, and it ran towards the posterior end of the lateral sulcus of the cereal hemispheres lateral to the optic chiasma. The length ranged from 11.3 to 26.2 mm, with mean length being 18.9 and 17.6 mm in the right and left side respectively. Diameter of the MCA ranged from 2.5 cm to 4.8 cm, with mean diameter being 3.12 and 3.24 cm in the right and left side respectively. Symmetric anching of MCA was seen in 22 specimens and rest had asymmetric anching. Conclusions: Awareness about the anatomical variations in the morphometric measurements and anching patterns of MCA are essential from the clinical viewpoint. Since these variations are rare, multi-centric studies with larger sample size are required in future.