title: Factors shaping e-feedback utilization following electronic Objective Structured Clinical Examinations.
abstract: The development of student-practitioners' practical clinical skills is essential in health professional education. Objective Structured Clinical Examinations are central to the assessment of students performing clinical procedures on simulated patients (actors). While feedback is considered core to learning providing timely, individualised student OSCE feedback is difficult. This study explored the perceptions of students about the multiple factors which shape the utility of e-feedback following an electronic Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, which utilized iPad and specialised software. The e-feedback was trialled in four courses within occupational therapy and physiotherapy pre-professional programs with a cohort of 204 students. Evaluation of student perceptions about feedback was collected using two surveys and eight focus groups. This data showed three factors shaped perceptions of the utility of e- Objective Structured Clinical Examinations feedback: 1) timely accessibility within one day of the assessment, 2) feedback demonstrating examiners' academic literacy and 3) feedback orientated to ways of improving future performance of clinical skills. The study found training in the provision of feedback using IPads and software is needed for examiners to ensure e-feedback meets students' needs for specific, future-oriented e-feedback and institutional requirements for justification of grades.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Samantha E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ashby
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.|Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Snodgrass
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.|Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition, University of Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Darren A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rivett
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D000068156:Formative Feedback; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D013338:Students, Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Objective Structured Observed Examinations (OSCEs); clinical skills; computerized assessment; eOSCE; feedback; iPAD