title: Application of best practice guidelines for OSCEs-An Australian evaluation of their feasibility and value.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are widely used in health professional education and should be based on sound pedagogical foundations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and utility of using Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) within an OSCE format in a broad range of tertiary education settings with under-graduate and post-graduate nursing and midwifery students. We evaluated how feasible it was to apply the BPGs to modify OSCEs in a course; students' perspective of the OSCE; and finally, if the BPG-revised OSCEs better prepared students for clinical practice when compared with the original OSCEs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed method with surveys, focus groups and semi-structured interviews evaluated the BPGs within an OSCE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four maximally different contexts across four sites in Australia were used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants included lecturers and undergraduate nursing students in high and low fidelity simulation settings; under-graduate midwifery students; and post-graduate rural and remote area nursing students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  691 students participated in revised OSCEs. Surveys were completed by 557 students; 91 students gave further feedback through focus groups and 14 lecturers participated in interviews. At all sites the BPGs were successfully used to modify and implement OSCEs. Students valued the realistic nature of the modified OSCEs which contributed to students' confidence and preparation for clinical practice. The lecturers considered the revised OSCEs enhanced student preparedness for their clinical placements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BPGs have a broad applicability to OSCEs in a wide range of educational contexts with improved student outcomes. Students and lecturers identified the revised OSCEs enhanced student preparation for clinical practice. Subsequent examination of the BPGs saw further refinement to a set of eight BPGs that provide a sequential guide to their application in a way that is consistent with best practice curriculum design principles.
authors: School of Nursing and Midwifery, NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Nursing, Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University and Princess Alexandra Hospital, Health Sciences (N48), 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia. Electronic address: Marion.mitchell@griffith.edu.au.
authors: Marion L
authors: ML
authors: Mitchell
authors: Griffith University, School of Nursing and Midwifery and Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland Health Research, Ipswich Road Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia. Electronic address: Amanda.Henderson@health.qld.gov.au.
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: Henderson
authors: Nurse Practice Development Unit, Princess Alexandra Hospital and School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia. Electronic address: carol.jeffrey@health.qld.gov.au.
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Jeffrey
authors: Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia. Electronic address: d.nulty@griffith.edu.au.
authors: Duncan
authors: D
authors: Nulty
authors: Medical School, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia. Electronic address: m.groves@uq.edu.au.
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Groves
authors: University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: michelle.kelly@uts.edu.au.
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Kelly
authors: Mount Isa Centre for Rural and Remote Health, James Cook University, PO Box 2572, Mount Isa, Queensland 4825, Australia. Electronic address: sabina.knight@jcu.edu.au.
authors: Sabina
authors: S
authors: Knight
authors: Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia. Electronic address: pauline.glover@flinders.edu.au.
authors: Pauline
authors: P
authors: Glover
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery / Q000193:education; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000379:methods; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Best Practice Guidelines; Clinical practice; Competence; Midwifery; Nursing; OSCE