title: Student's perspectives on objective structured practical examination (OSPE) in Forensic Medicine - a report from India.
abstract: The objective of the present study was to know the perceptions of students regarding objective structured practical examination (OSPE) as a tool for assessment in Forensic Medicine. The present study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute (MGMCRI), Pondicherry, India. Undergraduate medical students of the 4th semester were enrolled in the study to know their perceptions regarding OSPE. The students were briefed regarding OSPE with a PowerPoint presentation and interaction. An examination was conducted using OSPE with10 stations and a total of 74 students participated in the study. The feedback was collected using a preformed proforma consisting of 12 items and analyzed. Most of the participants (82.4%) agreed that OSPE is a better method of examination than the conventional/traditional practical examination. The majority of the participants (77.0%) said that the OSPE covered wide range of knowledge than the conventional practical examination. A large number of students (63.5%) were of the opinion that the OSPE may be exhausting and stressful if number of stations are increased. Overall a larger proportion of the participants preferred OSPE over the conventional practical examination considering the various attributes examined in the study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute, Pillaiyarkuppam, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth University, Pondicherry 607402, India.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Pramod Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute, Pillaiyarkuppam, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth University, Pondicherry 607402, India.
authors.lastname: Sentitoshi
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Mahatma Gandhi Medical College & Research Institute, Pillaiyarkuppam, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth University, Pondicherry 607402, India.
authors.forename: Dhritiman
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.affiliation: Forensic Medicine Division, Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Dammam, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ritesh G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore (A Constituent College of Manipal University), India. Electronic address: tanujkanchan@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Tanuj
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanchan
mesh_terms: D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D010465:Perception; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Forensic Medicine; India; Medical education; Objective structured practical examination (OSPE); Student's perspectives