“I’d like to phone a friend”: how can students use digital devices in OSCEs?

Description

ASME Small grants prize 2022 winner presentation:

Author(s): Dr Hannah Gillespie, Maastricht University; Dr Helen Reid, Queen’s University Belfast; Dr Kathy Cullen, Queen’s University Belfast
Background: Objectively Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are used globally to assess healthcare students’ clinical skills and knowledge. Examiners may use simulated patients, mannequins, medical devices, or special effects to enhance the realism of OSCEs. There remains a gap between ‘real-life’ practice and ‘OSCE experience’ which can create tensions for both student and examiner. In practice, students are encouraged to use all available resources to help them learn and care for patients. These resources are often not available during OSCEs - and if provided, may be in unfamiliar forms. We aimed to explore student use of mobile phones during OSCE assessment, with a focus on exam security, equity, and relevance to practice.
Methods: Cultural Historical Activity Theory (CHAT) allows us to analyse complex systems like those of assessment. We recruited a range of stakeholders to participate in focus group interviews. Transcripts were analysed using CHAT as a theoretical lens to construct an Activity System of Assessment and identify emerging tensions. Results and conclusion: Seven examiners, thirteen medical students, and two simulated patients participated in three focus groups. Three sources of tension were identified: the tension between the tools of assessment and practice, of exam security and exam relevance, and of medical students as people and professionals. This study exemplifies how a seemingly small change in a complex system can help us understand and describe the unwritten rules of the activity. Keywords: Assessment, OSCEs, simulation

Period	13 Jul 2023
Event title	Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) July 2023 Conference: Developing a diverse workforce
Event type	Conference
Location	United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	National