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Rethinking the OSCE as a Tool for National Competency Evaluation
Author(s) -
Boyd M. A.,
Gerrow J.D.,
Duquette P.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
european journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.583
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1600-0579
pISSN - 1396-5883
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2004.338ab.x
Subject(s) - objective structured clinical examination , blueprint , licensure , accreditation , medical education , presentation (obstetrics) , certification , test (biology) , curriculum , process (computing) , educational measurement , psychology , computer science , medicine , pedagogy , engineering , political science , law , radiology , operating system , mechanical engineering , paleontology , biology
The relatively recent curriculum change to Problem‐Based Learning/Case‐Based Education has stimulated the development of new evaluation tools for student assessment. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has become a popular method for such assessment. The National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) began using an OSCE format as part of the national certification testing process for licensure of beginning dentists in Canada in 1996. The OSCE has been well received by provincial licensing authorities, dental schools and students. ‘Hands on’ clinical competency is trusted to the dental programs and verified through NDEB participation in the Accreditation process. The desire to refine the OCSE has resulted in the development of a new format. Previously OSCE stations consisted of case‐based materials and related multiple‐choice questions. The new format has case‐based material with an extended match presentation. Candidates ‘select one or more correct answers’ from a group of up to15 options. The blueprint is referenced to the national competencies for beginning practitioners in Canada. This new format will be available to students on the NDEB website for information and study purposes. Question stems and options will remain constant. Case histories and case materials will change each year. This new OSCE will be easier to administer and be less expensive in terms of test development. Reliability and validity is enhanced by involving content experts from all faculties in test development, by having the OSCE verified by general practitioners and by making the format available to candidates. The new OSCE will be pilot tested in September 2004. Examples will be provided for information and discussion.