Development of Electronic Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (e-OSCEs) for Prosthodontic Clinical Assessment

Introduction

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) serve as a reliable assessment tool for clinical and competency evaluation. Traditional OSCEs, involving live patients, present logistical challenges and evoke student anxiety. In an effort to create a comprehensive clinical series of examinations, electronic OSCEs (e-OSCEs) were developed for assessing clinical competencies in prosthodontics at a large dental school. This manuscript aims to describe e-OSCEs as a competency assessment.

Methods

The e-OSCEs were implemented for the graduating classes from 2014 to 2023, covering categories of Single-unit Crowns and Fixed Partial Dentures, Implants, Removable Partial Dentures and Complete Dentures. A digital library of clinically relevant questions was developed to simulate chairside scenarios. Competence in any area was defined as scoring a 100% where questions were taken from a pool that represented the full scope of the clinical procedure.

Results

Ten-year retrospective data indicate sustained student performance over the years, with the majority achieving competence after three e-OSCE attempts.

Discussion

Advantages of the e-OSCE include standardised assessments, reduced examiner bias and adaptability to external disruptions in addition to fair and relevant evaluations, cost-effectiveness and test security. Evaluation of e-OSCE outcomes allows ease of analysis for curriculum enhancement and modification.

Conclusion

The e-OSCE method of clinical assessment offers a standardised, clinically equivalent and efficient process for assessing dental students' competencies. The assessment methodology aligns with US accreditation standards and can be easily adapted by other institutions with different grading parameters for comprehensive clinical assessments. This approach provides a feasible and effective method for assessments in dental education.