Scoping Review of Postvention for Mental Health Providers Following Patient Suicide.

INTRODUCTION: As suicides among military personnel continue to climb, we sought to determine best practices for supporting military mental health clinicians following patient suicide loss (i.e., postvention). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a scoping review of the literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Our initial search of academic databases generated 2,374 studies, of which 122 were included in our final review. We categorized postvention recommendations based on the socioecological model (i.e., recommendations at the individual provider, supervisory/managerial, organizational, and discipline levels) and analyzed them using a narrative synthesizing approach. RESULTS: Extracted recommendations (N = 358) comprised those at the provider (n = 94), supervisory/managerial (n = 90), organization (n = 105), and discipline (n = 69) levels. CONCLUSIONS: The literature converges on the need for formal postvention protocols that prioritize (1) training and education and (2) emotional and instrumental support for the clinician. Based on the scoped literature, we propose a simple postvention model for military mental health clinicians and recommend a controlled trial testing of its effectiveness.

A Meta-Review to Guide Military Screening and Treatment of Gambling Problems.

INTRODUCTION: Excessive gambling can cause substantial biopsychosocial problems (e.g., difficulties with finances, relationships, mental, and physical health). For military Service Members, it can also result in security clearance denial or revocation, failure to achieve promotions, and premature career termination. Recent congressional mandates have obligated the U.S. Department of Defense to screen for problematic gambling, the predictive values of which are a function of (i) problem prevalence and (ii) tool sensitivity and specificity. This meta-review (i.e., systematic review of systematic reviews) on the screening properties of gambling assessment tools and the effectiveness of treatments for gambling disorder is to inform military services on responding to Service Members' gambling problems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: EBSCO Discovery Service, PubMed, PsycINFO, Ovid Medline, Social Care Online, Epistemonikos, International Health Technology Assessment, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials electronic databases were searched up to December 2022 for systematic reviews and meta-analyses on measurements of adult subclinical or gambling, and interventions targeting individuals with GD. Three and four studies were included in each section of the current meta-review (i.e., assessment tools and treatment). For review 1, the estimated risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews. RESULTS: Thirty-one tools were identified through the three systematic reviews. All had modest sensitivities and specificities; combined with low prevalences in the general SM population, positive results would be incorrect 64-99% of the time. However, if screening were conducted with SMs referred for alcohol problems, a positive result on the best screening tools would be correct 76% of the time. Several commonly used treatment approaches had demonstrated efficacy for GD. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of low prevalence of GD and subclinical gambling problems in the general population, coupled with modest sensitivity and specificity, makes screening unfeasible in the general SM population. However, dual-phase screening in higher-prevalence subpopulations (i.e., SMs already identified with substance-abuse or mental-health problems) would be viable. Regarding treatment, several interventions-already used in military healthcare-with extensive empirical track records have been successfully used to treat adults with GD.

The effectiveness of an Instagram-based educational game in a Bachelor of Nursing course: An experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Gamification is a novel educational method that adopts elements of games to motivate students using participatory learning. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of participation in an Instagram-based educational game on learning outcomes. METHOD: Experimental design with 291 university students in a first-year course of the Bachelor of Nursing during the 2020-21 academic year. RESULTS: After ruling out pretest sensitization, we identified a positive effect of participation in the educational game. An average improvement of 0.62 points was observed in the final grade of the students belonging to the experimental groups. CONCLUSION: Nursing undergraduate students participating an Instagram-based educational game had better learning outcomes than their counterparts who did not participate in the game.

Rethinking Dating and SEXUAL Violence Prevention for Youth During the Pandemic: Examining Program Feasibility and Acceptability.

Sexual and dating violence (SDV) is a social and health but preventable public issue. Most evidence-based prevention programs have been evaluated using an in-person delivery mechanism. Project Dream, Own and Tell (DOT) is a 13- to 18-week SDV prevention program targeting youth from traditionally underserved communities in New York City that shifted from in-person to online delivery in response to social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the current study was to understand how youth perceive learning SDV prevention in an online environment (acceptability and feasibility of the online DOT program). A mixed methods triangulation design was used including responses to Ecological Momentary Assessments (n = 25), a brief post survey with Likert-scale items (n = 18), and semi-structured interviews with 12 participants. The sample comprised Latinx/Hispanic, Asian American, Arab American, and African American youth between the ages of 15 and 21 from urban communities. Youth indicated both strengths and challenges of the online format. Strengths included ease of fitting the program into their schedules, avoiding long commutes, and the potential to create a safe online space for participants to engage in sexual violence prevention discussions and thus, feel less exposed. Challenges included internet connectivity issues, difficulties in building trustworthy relationships with other participants when not sharing the same physical space, some characteristics of the program's activities, and the lack of adequate space from which to attend the program (i.e., shared spaces). Findings suggest that synchronous online prevention program delivery is a feasible and acceptable strategy for engaging adolescents in relationship violence prevention.

How the COVID-19 pandemic hit crime in Barcelona: Analysis of variation in crime trends.

Objectives: To compare the observed and forecasted crime trends in Barcelona, using crime statistics from January 2018 to March 2021. Methods: We trained (seasonal) auto-regressive integrated moving average modelling (95% confidence intervals) using daily recorded crimes from January 2018 to February 2020. These models were then used to forecast crime data from March 2020 to March 2021 across four periods (lockdown, summer, fall and winter). Crime data were organized into two categories: property (burglary, theft) and violent crimes (robbery, assault, domestic violence and sexual offenses [rape, assault or abuse]). Results: Overall, crime levels for property and violent crimes during lockdown declined sharply from the forecasted levels. Theft, burglary, assault, robbery and sexual offenses exhibited general decreases throughout the study period, with the same sharp declines during the lockdown, progressive recovery in the summer, and steady or slight reductions from fall to March 2021. Only domestic violence differed, reaching the forecasted levels for all periods and surpassing the forecast for summer 2020. Conclusions: Our findings show how the pandemic has affected mid-term crime trends. They help to place the measures applied in the last year into context and to determine the most suitable policies to reduce crime during societal change.

Gamification on Instagram: Nursing students' degree of satisfaction with and perception of learning in an educational game.

BACKGROUND: Gamification has been shown to lead to greater motivation and participation among students. Currently, many teachers use social networks to share supplementary course materials and student work, but they have not incorporated gamified educational activities into social networking sites. OBJECTIVE: To determine nursing students' satisfaction with an Instagram-based educational game and their perceptions of its effects on their learning. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study. PARTICIPANTS: First-year nursing students in the subject "Dietetics and Nutrition". RESULTS: Of the total sample, 71.7 % agreed that gamification had helped them assimilate the content. Between 66 % and 70 % agreed that the experience had motivated them to keep up with the subject and learn more about the topic, that it had helped them to better understand certain concepts of the subject, that they would recommend the experience to other students, and that they enjoyed the experience of playing a game while learning. 71.7 % of them were in favour of increased use of gamification in other subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an Instagram-based educational game as a complement to in-class teaching was useful, enjoyable, and motivating for the acquisition of new knowledge.

An Exploratory Study on Mental Health, Social Problems and Spiritual Damage in Victims of Child Sexual Abuse by Catholic Clergy and Other Perpetrators.

The Catholic Church has faced a large number of complaints against its representatives for sexual crimes that involved children and adolescents as victims. The objective of this study was to characterize the dynamics of this type of event, its characteristics, and its effects in terms of mental health and social consequences, as well as the spiritual damage generated. The sample comprised 182 victims from Spain and Chile, divided into three mutually exclusive groups (n = 40 committed by a representative of the Catholic Church; n = 85 by a family member; n = 57 by a perpetrator outside the family and the Church). The results show that victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) by a representative of the Catholic Church and other perpetrators are similar in many respects (e.g., religiosity, characteristics of the abuse, and mental health and social problems), but that the effects on religiosity are more serious for victims of the clergy, affecting their belief in God. Finally, the extreme decline in belief in God, due to CSA, is an important predictor for most mental health and social problems. Our results show the need to include the Catholic identity, faith and spirituality in the therapeutic context.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Engaging Significant Adults in Youth Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention Work.

Relationship and sexual violence (RSV) disproportionately affect youth in immigrant and other marginalized communities yet few prevention initiatives are truly grounded in their experiences. The current study represents a pilot implementation evaluation of youth-led workshops to engage significant adults (parents, grandparents, aunts, adult siblings, community leaders) as RSV prevention partners in diverse communities in a large urban area. The current mixed methods evaluation examined the perceptions of 66 adults and six youth leaders of four, day-long adult training workshops. Results showed high feasibility and acceptability and an important role for significant adults in enhancing RSV prevention.

A dual-factor model of posttraumatic responses: Which is better, high posttraumatic growth or low symptoms?

OBJECTIVE: Experiencing traumatic events may invoke posttraumatic symptoms (PTS) or growth (PTG). Using a dual-factor approach inspired by the dual-factor model of mental health, we explore the intersections of posttraumatic symptoms and growth with 21 strengths and indicators of psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being. METHOD: A survey completed by 1,966 participants who had experienced at least one prior victimization (average age 29.8 [SD = 1.64]; 63.6% female) assessed strengths, outcomes, and victimization. Participants were classified into four posttraumatic groups: Resilient (low symptoms, high growth, 23.9%), Prevailed (high symptoms, high growth, 26.1% of sample), Detached (low symptoms, low growth, 20.3%), and Distressed (high symptoms, low growth, 29.8%). RESULTS: Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) controlling for age, gender, and victimization found that posttraumatic group classification was associated with each regulatory, meaning-making, and interpersonal strength, and every well-being measure. The Distressed group scored the lowest and the Resilient group scored the highest on almost all measures. Notably, the Prevailed group scored above the Detached group on most measures, except for health-related quality of life and optimism, suggesting that high growth may be more beneficial than low symptoms when coping with trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that coping after trauma is more complex than merely doing well or doing poorly in response to trauma. Promoting posttraumatic growth may help even highly symptomatic people achieve well-being after trauma. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

The usefulness and acceptance of the OSCE in nursing schools.

This qualitative study explores the usefulness and acceptance attributed by students and faculty members to an Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) administered to nursing undergraduates in Catalonia (Spain) for 10 years. Seventy undergraduate nursing students and twelve faculty members participated in the study. The data collection techniques included an open-ended questionnaire, a student focus group, and individualized faculty interviews. The students experienced the OSCE positively as a learning event that offered an opportunity for feedback that could help them master the required competencies. The OSCE increased students' responsibility by presenting them with a set of challenges that they had to tackle individually. Moreover, it reaffirmed their confidence in situations that closely resembled professional practice. Faculty members valued the ability of the OSCE to integrate and assess competencies, its objectivity, and the indirect information it provided on the effectiveness of the curriculum. The educational impact attributed to the OSCE and its acceptance among faculty and students suggest that it would be useful to re-implement it in the Bachelor's of Nursing in Catalan universities. Our findings may be of use to other nursing programs considering how to assess competency-based education, especially in the context of the European Higher Education Area.

Características del abuso sexual infantil por representantes de la Iglesia católica en España / Characteristics of Child Sexual Abuse by Representatives of the Catholic Church in Spain / Característiques de l'abús sexual infantil per representants de l'Església catòlica a Espanya

Este es el primer estudio nacional en España en el que se evalúan las características diferenciales de la victimización sexual contra niños, niñas y adolescentes por parte de representantes de la Iglesia católica. Participaron 38 adultos (25 varones y 13 mujeres), a quienes se llegó mediante muestreo no probabilístico de conveniencia y bola de nieve. Se evaluaron las características de la victimización sexual y del victimario, la revelación y notificación y la vivencia de otras formas de victimización por parte de personas no pertenecientes al clero. Los resultados sugieren que las organizaciones religiosas deberían adquirir el compromiso de colaborar en el proceso de superación de las graves experiencias de victimización infantojuvenil acontecidas en su seno por parte de aquellos niños, niñas y adolescentes más vulnerables y victimizados

This is the first national study in Spain in which the differential characteristics of sexual victimization against children and adolescents by representatives of the Catholic Church are evaluated. Thirty-eight adults (25 men and 13 women) reached by non-probabilistic sampling of convenience and snowball participated in the study. The characteristics of the sexual victimization and the perpetrator, the disclosure and notification and the experience of other forms of victimization by people not belonging to the clergy were evaluated. The results suggests that religious organizations should acquire the commitment to collaborate in the process of overcoming the serious experiences of victimization by those most vulnerable and victimized children and adolescents

Aquest és el primer estudi nacional a Espanya en el qual s'avaluen les característiques diferencials de la victimització sexual contra nens, nenes I adolescents per part de representants de l'Església catòlica. Van participar-hi 38 adults (25 homes I 13 dones), als qui es va arribar mitjançant mostreig no probabilístic de conveniència I bola de neu. Es van avaluar les característiques de la victimització sexual I del victimari, la revelació I notificació ila vivència d'altres formes de victimització per part de persones no pertanyents al clergat. Els resultats suggereixen que les organitzacions religioses haurien d'adquirir el compromís de col·laborar en el procés de superació de les greus experiències de victimització infantil I juvenil esdevingudes allà per part d'aquells nens, nenes I adolescents més vulnerables I victimitzats

Facing Interpersonal Violence: Identifying the Coping Profile of Poly-Victimized Resilient Adolescents.

Coping strategies are factors that mediate the relationship between interpersonal victimizations and psychological maladjustment. The objectives are as follows: (a) to establish the coping profile of adolescents according to the number of reported interpersonal victimizations; (b) to identify the most victimized adolescents (poly-victims), detecting those with psychological symptoms (nonresilient poly-victims) and those without psychological symptoms (resilient poly-victims), and then to examine any differences in coping strategies between the two groups; (c) to determine the accumulative effect of victimizations on mental health; and (d) to test the mediating role of both approach and avoidance coping between lifetime interpersonal victimizations and symptoms. Participants were 918 community Spanish adolescents (62.7% girls) aged between 14 and 18 years. Measures used were Youth Self-Report, Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, and Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences. The following results were reported: (a) The most victimized adolescents used to a greater degree avoidance coping strategies than nonvictimized adolescents. (b) Resilient poly-victimized adolescents were more likely to seek family support and tended to use more positive reappraisal than nonresilient poly-victimized adolescents. (c) A clear cumulative effect of victimizations on mental health was observed: 45% of the most victimized adolescents (poly-victims) reached clinical range on Youth Self-Report in front of 2% of nonvictimized adolescents. (d) Avoidance coping and more specifically Escaping and Venting feelings strategies played a mediating role between interpersonal victimizations and psychological symptoms. Approach coping had no mediating role, except for Positive reappraisal in girls. In conclusion, the possibility of identifying the coping profile of victimized adolescents may have clinical implications in terms of both prevention and intervention.

Poly-victimization from different methodological approaches using the juvenile victimization questionnaire: Are we identifying the same victims?

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine whether three different methodological approaches used to assess poly-victimization that apply the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ; Finkelhor, Hamby, Ormrod, & Turner, 2005) identify the same group of adolescent poly-victims. METHOD: The sample consisted of 1,105 adolescents (590 males and 515 females), aged 12-17 years old (M = 14.52, SD = 1.76) and recruited from seven secondary schools in Spain. The JVQ was used to assess lifetime and past-year experiences of victimization. RESULTS: Poly-victims were more likely to experience all types of victimization than victims, regardless of the method used. The degree of agreement between the methods for identifying poly-victimization was moderate for both timeframes, with the highest agreements being recorded between the one-above-the-mean number of victimizations and Latent Class Analysis (LCA) for lifetime, and between the top 10% and LCA for past-year victimization. CONCLUSIONS: Researchers and clinicians should be aware that the use of different methods to define poly-victimization may mean that different victims are identified. The choice of one method or another may have important implications. In consequence, focusing on how we operationalize poly-victimization should be a priority in the near future.

Poly-Victimization and Peer Harassment Involvement in a Technological World.

This article explores the ways poly-victimized youth (those experiencing multiple different types of victimization over the course of 1 year) use technology to interact with peers. Particular attention is given to the peer harassment victimization and perpetration experiences of poly-victimized youth compared with less victimized and non-victimized youth-both overall and through technology. Data were collected as part of the Technology Harassment Victimization (THV) study; a national survey of 791 youth, ages 10 to 20 across the United States. Study results document the heightened risks that poly-victimized youth experience when interacting with peers. Low and high poly-victimized youth were both at significantly greater risk of being dual victims and perpetrators of peer harassment when compared with non-victimized youth even after taking into account other potentially explanatory factors. This was not found to be the case for less victimized youth. This was true for high poly-victims and technology-involved harassment risk as well. There were indications that poly-victimized youth were interacting with peers in more intense and risky ways in general using new technology. The increase in attention to poly-victimization in recent years has importantly identified the detrimental role that experiencing different forms of victimization have on youth. This study not only adds to that literature but suggests that there is an opportunity to interrupt additional victimization by understanding how poly-victimized youth interact with peers before and during adolescence. Although preliminary, the differences in technology use by poly-victimized youth versus others suggest that more information is needed to understand how they are relating to peers in both positive and risky ways in this environment.

Resilience and psychopathology among victimized youth in residential care.

This study examines the role of several resilience resources in the relationship between lifetime victimization and mental health problems among adolescents in care. The sample comprised 127 adolescents (53.% females, aged 12-17 years) from residential care facilities in Catalonia, Spain. The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire, the Youth Self-Report, and the Adolescent Resilience Questionnaire were used to assess victimization, psychological symptoms, and resilience respectively. Results indicated that poly-victimization was associated with fewer resources, and with an increased risk of mental health problems. Self-resources mediated the relationship between victimization and internalizing and externalizing symptoms; community support mediated the relationship between victimization and internalizing symptoms. Self, school and peer support moderated the relationship between victimization and externalizing symptoms. Adolescents with fewer self-resources and less school support reported more externalizing symptoms, as did those with more peer support. However, poly-victimized youths reported symptoms within the clinical range, regardless of their level of resources. The findings stress the importance of preventing poly-victimization and of empowering poly-victimized adolescents, who appear to present low levels of resources. Researchers and clinicians should continue to study the poly-victimization/psychopathology relationship, and also design interventions and prevention programs which incorporate the most relevant resilience resources.

Poly-victimization and psychopathology among Spanish adolescents in residential care.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of poly-victimization on symptom severity among adolescents being cared for by the child welfare system in a southwestern European country. The sample consisted of 127 youths (62 males and 65 females) aged 12-17 years (M=14.60, SD=1.61) who were recruited from short- and long-term residential centers. The Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (Finkelhor, Hamby, Ormrod, & Turner, 2005) and the Youth Self-Report (Achenbach & Rescorla, 2001) were used to assess interpersonal victimization experiences and psychopathology, respectively. Victim (n=68), low poly-victim (n=48), and high poly-victim (n=18) groups had comparable rates of psychopathology severity, with the exception of rule-breaking behavior, which was more severe among those with more victimization experiences (Cramer's V=.342). Poly-victimization was shown to be a significant predictor of clinically severe rule-breaking behavior, thought problems, and anxiety/depression symptoms. Among victimization types, sexual and electronic victimization significantly predicted withdrawn/depressed and aggressive behavior, and attention problems, respectively. The results of this study highlight the importance of assessing a wide range of victimization experiences among adolescents in care, since poly-victimization seems to underlie the serious psychological problems these youth present.

Relationship between particular areas of victimization and mental health in the context of multiple victimizations in Spanish adolescents.

The main objective of this paper is to study the relationship between different areas of victimization (e.g., sexual victimization) and psychological symptoms taking into account the full range of victimizations adolescents suffer. The final aim is to contribute further evidence regarding the bias that those studies which focus on just one area of victimization may be introducing into our psychological knowledge. A total of 923 adolescents (62.4% girls) between 14 and 18 years old were recruited from seven secondary schools in Catalonia, Spain. The Youth Self-report and the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire were employed to assess psychological problems (internalizing and externalizing symptoms) and victimization, respectively. The large majority of adolescents reported having experienced more than one area of victimization. However, Conventional Crime area was the one that was more reported in isolation. Overall, the explicative power of a particular area of victimization was greatly reduced or even lost its significance when the other areas were taken into account. However, some areas remained significant and were different by gender. Clinicians and researchers should take into account the whole range of victimizations adolescents suffer when intending to understand the psychological aftermaths of victimization. Some areas of victimization appear to be more important at explaining particular psychological symptoms, those being Peer and Sibling Victimization in the case of boys, and both Conventional Crime and Internet Victimization in the case of girls.

Polyvictimization and risk for suicidal phenomena in a community sample of Spanish adolescents.

This study aims to provide data regarding the association between reported degree of victimization and suicidal phenomena, with special emphasis on gender differences. There were 923 adolescents recruited from eight secondary schools in Catalonia, Spain. The Youth Self-Report (YSR) and the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ) were used to assess suicidal phenomena and victimization, respectively. Participants were divided into three groups (nonvictim, victim, and polyvictim groups) according to the total number of different kinds of victimization reported. Results showed that the polyvictim group reported significantly more suicidal phenomena than did the victim and nonvictim groups in both boys and girls. Furthermore, although no gender differences in reported suicidal phenomena were found in the nonvictim group, girls reported significantly more suicidal phenomena in both the victim and the polyvictim groups. In conclusion, the results suggest that victimization may play an important role in generating gender differences with respect to reported suicidal phenomena. In addition, this study highlights the importance of taking into account the whole range of victimizations suffered by adolescents when seeking to design suicide prevention and intervention policies.

[Testing objective structured clinical evaluation (OSCE) for nursing students experience developed during the years 1995-2009]. / Pruebas de evaluación clínica objetiva y estructurada (ECOE) para estudiantes de enfermería.

The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) has been recognized as an effective evaluation tool in the health area and has been implemented by an important sector of educational institutions, the Faculty of Medicine and School of Nursing. The present article describes the OSCE organized by the Institute of Health Studies in collaboration with the University Schools of Catalan Nursing. Between the years of 2002 and 2009, OSCE annual exams took place with the participation of 1.803 students. The global results remained stable with a median grade of slightly less than 60%, and the competence component that evaluated communicative capacity was the one in which students obtained the best results. The reliability obtained surpassed the minimum recommended by international standards. It's important underline the positive value to the students of all aspects of the test. From this experience it seems evident that it would be useful to take advantage of the OSCE tests in order to show the students their strong points and ways to improve. We should highlight, not only as a goal but also as an opportunity the assessment by competencies that the European space of higher Education provides at the end of studies for a Nursing degree.

Pruebas de evaluación clínica objetiva y estructurada (ECOE) para estudiantes de enfermería / Testing Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) for nursing students experience developed during the years 1995-2009

Las pruebas de Evaluación Clínica Objetiva y Estructurada (ECOE) han sido reconocidas como un formato eficaz de evaluación en el ámbito de la salud e implementadas por un importante sector de instituciones educativas: Facultades de Medicina y Escuelas de Enfermería. El presente artículo describe la experiencia en la realización de las pruebas ECOE organizadas por el Institut de Estudis de la Salut con la colaboración de la Escuelas Universitarias de Enfermería catalanas. Entre los años 2002 y 2009 se realizaron ECOE anuales en las que participaron 1.803 alumnos. Los resultados globales se mantuvieron estables con una nota media ligeramente inferior al 60% y la competencia que evaluó la capacidad comunicativa fue en la que los estudiantes obtuvieron mejores resultados. Las cifras de fiabilidad obtenidas superaron el mínimo recomendado por los estándares internacionales y los alumnos valoran positivamente su participación en las mismas. De la experiencia se concluye que sería conveniente aprovechar las pruebas ECOE para mostrar a los estudiantes sus puntos fuertes y aspectos a mejorar. Cabe destacar, como un reto pero también como una oportunidad, la evaluación por competencias que contempla el Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior al final de los estudios del Grado en Enfermería(AU)

The objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) has been recognized as an effective evaluation tool in the health area and has been implemented by an important sector of educational institutions, the Faculty of Medicine and School of Nursing. The present article describes the OSCE organized by the Institute of Health Studies in collaboration with the University Schools of Catalan Nursing. Between the years of 2002 and 2009, OSCE annual exams took place with the participation of 1.803 students. The global results remained stable with a median grade of slightly less than 60%, and the competence component that evaluated communicative capacity was the one in which students obtained the best results.The reliability obtained surpassed the minimum recommended by international standards. It's important underline the positive value to the students of all aspects of the test. From this experience it seems evident that it would be useful to take advantage of the OSCE tests in order to show the students their strong points and ways to improve. We should highlight, not only as a goal but also as an opportunity, the assessment by competencies that the European space of higher Education provides at the end of studies for a Nursing degree(AU)