title: Objective structured clinical examination for pharmacy students in Qatar: cultural and contextual barriers to assessment.
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and psychometric defensibility of implementing a comprehensive objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) on the complete pharmacy programme for pharmacy students in a Middle Eastern context, and to identify facilitators and barriers to implementation within new settings. Eight cases were developed, validated, and had standards set according to a blueprint, and were assessed with graduating pharmacy students. Assessor reliability was evaluated using inter-class coefficients (ICCs). Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparing OSCE results to professional skills course grades. Field notes were maintained to generate recommendations for implementation in other contexts. The examination pass mark was 424 points out of 700 (60.6%). All 23 participants passed. Mean performance was 74.6%. Low to moderate inter-rater reliability was obtained for analytical and global components (average ICC 0.77 and 0.48, respectively). In conclusion, OSCE was feasible in Qatar but context-related validity and reliability concerns must be addressed prior to future iterations in Qatar and elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Wilby
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Professions, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Austin
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mukhalalati
authors.affiliation: Qatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners, Supreme Council for Health, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aboulsoud
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Khalifa
mesh_terms: D003469:Culture; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011780:Qatar; D013339:Students, Pharmacy