OSCE as an assessment tool: perceptions of undergraduate medical students

ABSTRACT

To describe the perceptions of undergraduate medical students regarding Objective Structured Clinical Examination [OSCE] and its comparison to Multiple Choice Questions [MCQ], essay questions and viva voce. This cross-sectional survey was carried out at Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi [Pakistan], from 3 December 2008 to 2 January 2009. We used a questionnaire comprising of a total of 12 items, out of which 8 items were regarding the quality of exam [Liken scale], 3 regarding the difficulty, being educative and fairness of OSCE relative to other methods of assessment and last one regarding its acceptability as a method to assess clinical skills for undergraduate medical students. The questionnaire was distributed to students of 4th and 5th year medical students to be filled and returned for assessment of the responses. One twenty seven students completed the questionnaire. The results of the study showed that the exam was stressful for 51% of the respondents. About 81% thought that performance of tasks during OSCE was interesting and educative. OSCE, essay type, MCQ and oral viva examination were perceived easy by 44, 33, 18 and 5% students, educative by 32, 16, 23 and 30% and fair by 43, 13, 32 and 11% respectively. OSCE is well-received and acceptable to undergraduate medical students of Pakistan as a method to assess clinical skills