title: Developing a Framework for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations Using the Nominal Group Technique.
abstract: Objective.To use the nominal group technique to develop a framework to improve existing and develop new objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) within a four-year bachelor of pharmacy course.Design.Using the nominal group technique, a unique method of group interview that combines qualitative and quantitative data collection, focus groups were conducted with faculty members, practicing pharmacists, and undergraduate pharmacy students. Five draft OSCEs frameworks were suggested and participants were asked to generate new framework ideas.Assessment.Two focus groups (n=9 and n=7) generated nine extra frameworks. Two of these frameworks, one from each focus group, ranked highest (mean scores of 4.4 and 4.1 on a 5-point scale) and were similar in nature. The project team used these two frameworks to produce the final framework, which includes an OSCE in every year of the course, earlier implementation of teaching OSCEs, and the use of independent simulated patients who are not examiners.Conclusions.The new OSCE framework provides a consistent structure from course entry to exit and ensures graduates meet internship requirements.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Safeera Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hussainy
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Crum
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Manallack
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nicolazzo
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Angelina S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Carl M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D001315:Australia; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D000071216:Faculty, Pharmacy; D006040:Goals; D010595:Pharmacists; D011361:Professional Competence; D013339:Students, Pharmacy
keywords: framework; nominal group technique (NGT); objective structured clinical exam (OSCE); pharmacy; students