Validity of OSCE Evaluation Using the FLEX Model of Blended Learning.

BACKGROUND: For OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) scoring, medical schools must bring together many clinical experts at the same place, which is very risky in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. However, if the FLEX model with the properties of self-directed learning and offline feedback is applied to OSCE, it is possible to provide a safe and effective evaluation environment for both universities and students through experts' evaluation of self-video clips of medical students. The present study investigated validity of the FLEX model to evaluate OSCE in a small group of medical students. METHODS: Sixteen 3rd grade medical students who failed on OSCE were required to take a make-up examination by videotaping the failed items and submitting them online. The scores between original examination and make-up examination were compared using Paired Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, and a post-hoc questionnaire was conducted. RESULTS: The score for make-up examination was significantly higher than those for original examination. The significance was maintained even when the score was compared by individual domains of skills and proficiency. In terms of preference, students were largely in favor of self-videotaped examination primarily due to the availability of self-practice. CONCLUSION: The FLEX model can be effectively applied to medical education, especially for evaluation of OSCE.

Design, implementation and evaluation of a virtual clinical training protocol for midwifery internship in a gynecology course during COVID-19 pandemic: A semi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Over the past year, the occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic has challenged clinical education for health care students, due to the possibility of exposure to the virus and increased spread of the disease. Clinical training of midwifery students in gynecologic problems, based on the Iran midwifery education curriculum, was also disrupted during this pandemic. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at designing, implementing and evaluating a virtual clinical training protocol for midwifery internship in a Gynecology course. DESIGN: A semi-experimental study. SETTINGS: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-seven midwifery interns in Gynecology course were recruited during two semesters in 2020. METHODS: Five steps based on the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model were taken, which included 1) educational and skills needs assessment, 2) design, 3) development via focused group interviews and brainstorming with the presence of the midwifery department members in three sessions, 4) implementation including pretest and posttest, webinar, uploading the information of virtual patients, questions and correct answers, and 5) evaluation including knowledge assessment by a designed questionnaire and skills evaluation by the modified-Mini-CEX checklist. Data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation and paired t-test. RESULTS: After training, a significant increase (p < 0.001) was observed in scores of knowledge and interview skills, clinical judgment, consultation, efficiency, professionalism, clinical competence and total score of clinical skills. CONCLUSIONS: Training for gynecological diseases through virtual clinic promoted knowledge and clinical skills of midwifery interns. To enhance education, a virtual clinic may be used in crisis situations and in combination with teaching under normal circumstances by strengthening the infrastructure and removing barriers.

[Virtual Reality Skills Training Trends in Nurse Practitioner Education].

Technology developments change education strategies. Incorporating virtual reality into lesson plans allows education to focus not only on learning knowledge but also on knowledge and skills integration. In simulation education, learning environments are designed to approximate actual clinical situations, allowing students to practice skills in virtual clinical situations continuously. In addition, clinical lecturers may observe the students' practice process and provide feedback. Furthermore, through experiencing and practicing clinical procedures, students gain critical clinical judgment, skills, and teamwork operation competences, which may be applied in the real world. In Taiwan, the majority of nurse practitioner training is implemented in hospitals, and clinical training is done using hands-on and face-to-face teaching strategies within a mentorship framework. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this hospital-based training model has been significantly challenged. However, this represents an opportunity to migrate the nurse practitioner training model toward technology-based simulation education. Developing more virtual-reality-based lesson plans centered on clinical situations may help students complete training that is normally conducted in hospital teaching environments. Through repetitive practice in virtual reality settings, students may obtain comprehensive knowledge and clinical skills that will help relieve the subsequent stress of clinical practicum work and promote care quality and patient safety.