title: Clinical competency evaluation of Brazilian chiropractic interns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compares the results of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) between 2 groups of students before an internship and after 6 months of clinical practice in an internship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-two students participated, with 36 students in each cohort. The OSCEs were performed in the simulation laboratory before the participants' clinical practice internship and after 6 months of the internship. Students were tested in 9 stations for clinical skills and knowledge. The same procedures were repeated for both cohorts. The t test was used for unpaired parametric samples and Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of proportions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the mean final score between the 2 groups (p = .34 for test 1; p = .08 for test 2). The performance of the students in group 1 was not significantly different when performed before and after 6 months of clinical practice, but in group 2 there was a significant decrease in the average score after 6 months of clinical practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no difference in the cumulative average score for the 2 groups before and after 6 months of clinical practice in the internship. There were differences within the cohorts, however, with a significant decrease in the average score in group 2. Issues pertaining to test standardization and student motivation for test 2 may have influenced the scores.
authors.forename: Ana Paula A
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Facchinato
authors.forename: Camila C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Benedicto
authors.forename: Aline G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mora
authors.forename: Dayane M C
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Djalma J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Fagundes
keywords: Chiropractic; Internship; Measurement, Educational