To OSCE or not to OSCE: Student's Perception of Preparatory OSCE in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan

Abstract

Objective: To assess the feedback provided by medical students on efficacy of the Surgical OSCE, and the feedback provided in preparation of the final exam, conducted at the end of the academic year. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out amongst 133 students at the Department of General Surgery’s Unit “D” in Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from November, 2014 to November, 2015. Students were asked to fill out questionnaires regarding the importance of preparatory OSCE and the feedback provided during these sessions and their contribution in preparing for the final exam. Results: 75.2% of the students were of the opinion that a wide range of knowledge was covered regarding surgical topics and examinations, and 82.7% agreed that the feedback provided by the teachers was helpful. 93.2 % agreed that the environment at the time of the test was very cooperative and that the teachers were helpful. 83% of the students agreed that the test was conducted in a fair manner with no bias. Conclusion: OSCE is a standardized format of examination. The feedback provided by the students is valued highly and is representative of their perceptions and can thereby help in the advancement and improvement of the testing process.