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OSCE! Variations on a theme by Harden
Author(s) -
Hodges Brian
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
medical education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.776
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1365-2923
pISSN - 0308-0110
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2003.01717.x
Subject(s) - objective structured clinical examination , competence (human resources) , affect (linguistics) , medical education , psychology , clinical practice , health professionals , medicine , nursing , social psychology , health care , political science , communication , law
Background In 1979, Harden described the first objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Harden's OSCE dramatically changed the assessment of professional competence because it used actors and choreographed scenarios to evaluate the performance of professional behaviours. Analysis Because of the intense focus on performance, OSCEs have had a powerful influence on doctor training and practice. However, the immediate psychometric characteristics of OSCEs rather than their performance effects have been the subject of most research. Conclusion The time has come to undertake a sophisticated sociological investigation of how OSCEs affect medical practice, including the ways in which they shape doctor interaction with patients, families and other health professionals.