Objective Structured Clinical Examination as an Assessment Tool for Clinical Skills in Dermatology

Abstract

Background: Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE) is an excellent method to evaluate student's abilities, but there are no previous reports implementing it in dermatology.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility of implementation of a dermatology OSCE in the medical school.

Methods: Five stations with standardized patients and image-based assessment were designed. A specific checklist was elaborated in each station with different items which evaluated one competency and were classified into five groups (medical history, physical examination, technical skills, case management and prevention).

Results: A total of 28 students were tested. Twenty-five of them (83.3%) passed the exam globally. Concerning each group of items tested: medical interrogation had a mean score of 71.0; physical examination had a mean score of 63.0; management had a mean score of 58.0; and prevention had a mean score of 58.0 points. The highest results were obtained in interpersonal skills items with 91.8 points.

Limitations: Testing a small sample of voluntary students may hinder generalization of our study.

Conclusions: OSCE is an useful tool for assessing clinical skills in dermatology and it is possible to carry it out. Our experience enhances that medical school curriculum needs to establish OSCE as an assessment tool in dermatology.

Keywords: Clinical practice; Clinical simulation; ECOE; Educación médica; Estudiantes de medicina; Medical education; Medical students; OSCE; Práctica clínica; Simulación clínica.