title: Medical students' perception of the proposal for theme-based integrated multi-disciplinary objective structured practical examination in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: This study aimed to find the opinion of preclinical medical students concerning a new suggested approach for practical assessment. Fifty-three female students agreed to participate in this study, out of 87 registered students in years 2 and 3 of the basic science phase of the College of Medicine, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Full explanation was made to the students of theme-based integrated objective structured practical examination (TBI-OSPE), followed by distribution of a questionnaire to collect the students' opinions. The study was conducted in January 2015. Results showed that 78% of respondents were accepting of this new approach, and that only 5.7% rejected it. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). This study suggested a new model for assessment of preclinical students' competencies using the proposed tool (TBI-OSPE) rather than standard classical OSPE, particularly in curricula involving high levels of integration and theme-based problems. This form of assessment would more positively enhance learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Medical Education, Suez Canal University College of Medicine, Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohammad Saleh
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3132-3094
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Medical Education, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Qassim, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Amel
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2815-5544
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yacoubi
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D010465:Perception; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012577:Schools, Medical; D012586:Science; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities
keywords: Curriculum; Medical students; Saudi Arabia; Surveys and questionnaires