Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a modern up-to-date method of evaluation of the students’ practical knowledge and skills, designed to test the clinical performance and competence in a range of skills that cannot be assessed by traditional forms of examinations. Each station assesses one or more areas of clinical competence (for example, history taking, communication, physical examination skills, etc.). The assessment applies a standardized approach, which includes standardized patients (SPs), standardized scoring tools, and standardized exam-day logistics.
Basic principles of OSCE
О – оbjective – all students perform tasks of the same complexity, which are evaluated using the standardized scoring tool (check-list);
S – structured – every student experiences the same problems, and is asked to perform the same task, within the same timeframe. Students move sequentially from one station to another one according to a certain route, performing tasks of the same level of difficulty;
C – сlinical – The tasks in each OSCE station represent real-life clinical situations in which students apply the acquired theoretical knowledge and practical skills;
E – еxamination – competence and skills of students are assessed on the basis of the above principles.
Venue
OSCE will take place in the inter-departmental Simulation Training Center. During the exam, ongoing video surveillance is underway.
Who should pass OSCE?
Students of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th courses on the specialty “Medicine” as well as students of the 3rd and 4th courses on the specialty “Dentistry” should pass the OSCE in the last month of the semester before the semester examinations.
One exam group, numbering 12 students, passes the exam simultaneously.
Examination groups are formed by the dean’s office before the exam.
OSCE timetable
| І period | 9.00 – 10.25 |
| ІІ period | 10.35 – 12.00 |
| ІІІ period | 12.15 – 13.40 |
| ІV period | 13.50 – 15.15 |
| V period | 15.30 – 16.55 |
| VІ period | 17.05 – 18.20 |
OSCE subjects
The exam includes 12 stations for each course:
• on the specialty “Medicine”:
– for the 3rd course: Internal Medicine Propaedeutics (5 stations), Propaedeutic Pediatrics (3 stations), General surgery (4 stations);
– for the 4th course: Internal Medicine (3 stations), Surgery (3 stations), Pediatrics (3 stations), Neurology (2 stations), Psychiatrics (1 station);
– for the 5th course: Internal Medicine (3 stations), Surgery (2 stations), Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine (1 station), Pediatrics (3 stations), Infectious Diseases (1 station), Obstetrics and Gynecology (2 stations).
• on the specialty “Dentistry”:
– for the 3rd course: Dental Therapy (4 stations), Orthopedic Dentistry (4 stations), Dental Surgery (4 stations);
– for the 4th course: Pediatric Dental Therapy (4 stations), Internal Medicine (4 stations), Surgery (4 stations).
How to get prepared to OSCE?
To prepare for OSCE, use the practical skills algorithms that are posted on the sites of the respective departments or the Link.
On the day of OSCE
On the day of OSCE you must arrive 30 minutes prior to the exam to a Simulation Training Center for registration and instructing.
On the day of the examination, you must bring:
• Your student’s card as your identification
• A medical uniform (a white gown or surgical suit)
• Changes shoes
• A stethoscope
• A second-hand mechanical wrist-watch (optionally).
It is prohibited to bring and use these items into the examination:
• Educational and auxiliary study materials
• Phones or communication devices (phone, tablet, reader, smart-watch, etc.)
• Paper and pen (these will be supplied)
• Food and drink.
Just before the exam
The liable instructor will identify your person and register your presence.
Besides, he will explain exam behavior and security, the number and length of examination stations, the time between stations, the signal system used to keep time and other important information.
You will be given a badge with a sequential number (it will correspond to the number of the station from which you start the exam) and your personal identification number.
A route sheet will be issued to you, which will indicate the path of passing the OSCE stations. The number of the station and its name will be clearly indicated on the doors of each room.
You will be required to sign the confidentiality and non-disclosure document.
Passing OSCE (How to move along the route)
After receiving the instructions, you are pre-assigned to start at a specific station indicated on your badge (your sequential number) and then pass to the next number of station. For example, if there are 12 stations, and your first station number is 4, you might start at Station No.4 and rotate through stations 5,6,7, 8,9,10,11,12,1,2,3. Signs throughout the examination route will help you navigate through your stations.
Performing tasks at stations starts and ends with a ringing tone.
In front of the station door, you will see instructions for that station. With a ringtone, you should enter the room, receive a task, and execute it.
All the writing forms you will be given on a station should be handled to the examiner of the station after you will complete the task.
Time to complete the task is 6 minutes. At the end of this time, the next ringtone will signal that you must exit the room and go to the next room (station) along the route.
If in 6 minutes you did not handle the task, stop working and leave the room with a ringtone, handling to the examiner the writing forms. If you handle the task before the time of station completing, you must stay in the room until the ending of 6-min period (it will be singled by ringtone).
Performing tasks at the following stations starts with the next ringtone.
The time interval between stations, to pass from one station to another, is equal to 1 min.
You and other candidates will rotate through all the stations on the track, so to pass through all 12 stations.
Once the examination begins, washroom and other breaks are not provided.
Physical arrangement of stations
Each examination station is unique. The equipment and setting in the station will vary depending on the purpose of the station. For example, if a physical examination is part of the station, you can expect to find:
• An exam table, sometimes with the phantom or patient already sitting on it or in a chair.
• A kit of tools for you to use. You will have to bring your own stethoscope for the exam.
• A copy of the scenario task will be provided inside each station for you.
• a response form that must be filled out by the student (at some stations).
If the station requires other materials, such as a growth chart, lab results or other relevant information, these will be in the station.
Violation of the rules
If you are late, you will not be allowed to take the exam.
During the exam you are prohibited from communicating with each other and with an examiner.
If you violate the rules of safety and conduct or use the educational materials and/or gadgets, your personal exam results may be cancelled.
Communication during the exam
An examiner will be observing, assessing and recording your performance while you do the task. Do not pay attention to an examiner facial expression or making marks on the score sheet. Do your best to focus on the patient and demonstrate your clinical competence without focusing on the examiner.
You can apply to the examiner in case of deterioration of well-being or in force majeure circumstances.
The examiner may address you verbally in case of:
• If you break the safety and conduct rules.
• If you misinterpret the task in the instructions, the examiner may redirect you by saying something like, “Please reread the instructions” or “Carry out auscultation at the point indicated by blue color, please”.
• after you have performed some maneuver, the examiner may provide the results of the maneuver as if you had completed it. For example, after your demonstration of chest percussion the examiner may then say, “There is dullness in the paravertebral area on the right.” If no information is provided, move on. Do not look to the examiner for information or ask if they have information for you (all necessary data should be available in the task given).
How to repass OSCE?
In case of absence or negative result on the exam, you will have the opportunity to repass it in due time according to the schedule of the dean’s office.
OSCE evaluation
At each station, the examiner, without interfering with the process of performing the task, evaluates your actions and indicates the result by marking it in a check-list.
The maximum score for the task at 1 station is 1 (one) point. The maximum number of points for OSCE is 12.
The exam results will be known on the day of passing after processing all the check-lists.
The exam is considered to be compiled if you scored at least 7.0 points.
If Not Agree With the Result
If you do not agree with the exam results, you can file an appeal within 2 days.
The appeal is considered by the commission, the decision is taken after viewing the video recording of your exam.
What happens after the examination?
When you are finished the OSCE, you have to return your candidate badge and pen (pencil). Then you leave the examination floor through the ‘Exit’ passage.
OSCE security requirements
Students are prohibited to discuss, copy, reproduce or share examination content in any way, at any time before, during, and after the exam.
Other tips
Do not be tempted to do MORE than what the station instructions require. For example, if the instructions say to “take a focused history”, then do exactly that – do not complete a full patient interview covering issues that may not be relevant.
Do be guided by the information that the patient tells you. Apply your clinical reasoning to the patient’s pertinent answers during the history and physical exam portions of the stations.
Do not make assumptions about the purpose of the station. You may think, for example, “Oh, this must be the depression station”, but keep an open mind. You are being assessed on your active clinical skills. Be guided by the patient’s responses.
Do communicate with the patient well. The examiners will assess you, not only on what you say and ask, but on how you communicate with the patient.
Do manage your time well. Because OSCE stations have time limitations, time management is crucial.
Useful link: https://www.tdmu.edu.ua/en/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Informaciya-dla-studentiv-angl.pdf