Dental student perceptions of the educational value of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary OSCE.
The aim of this study was to examine student perceptions of the educational value of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The examination is administered after the second year of the curriculum, prior to the beginning of clinical training at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. The quantitative component of the study consisted of a survey administered to students who had taken the OSCE (N=78). Due to the ordinal level of data produced by the Likert-scale survey, statistical analysis was performed through calculation of the median and interquartile range (IQR). Overall, student perceptions of the educational value of the OSCE, as measured using a five-point scale (1=strongly disagree to 5=strongly agree) were positive, demonstrating students' agreement that the exam required the ability to think critically and problem-solve (median=4, IQR=1), assessed clinically relevant skills (median=5, IQR=1), and was a learning experience (median=5, IQR=1). A statistically significant chi-square value (p<0.001) was found for all questions. The qualitative component consisted of phenomenological examination of student focus group interviews (N=15). Four main themes were identified including that the OSCE was an authentic assessment that required integration and application of knowledge.
Division of Operative Dentistry, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, 630 West 168 Street, P&S Box 20, New York, NY 10032;. rg2032@columbia.edu.
Roseanna
R
Graham
Laureen A
LA
Zubiaurre Bitzer
Felicia Moore
FM
Mensah
O Roger
OR
Anderson
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D032882:Comprehension; D004497:Education, Dental; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D011340:Problem Solving; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D013850:Thinking
OSCE; assessment; dental education; objective structured clinical examination