Abstract

PERIODICAL ASSESSMENT OF OBJECTIVE STRUCTURED CLINICAL EXAMINATION (OSCE) AT FAMILY MEDICINE PROGRAM, NORTHERN BORDERS (ARAR), SAUDI ARABIA - A METHOD FOR ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT

Saleh Algabbany*, Dr. Reda Goblan Al Anazi and K. Chandra Sekhar

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Abstract

Background: In post-graduation education, multiple evaluation methods were incorporated to the all four levels of residents to gain the modern assessment techniques orientation and to create good academic teaching and learning atmosphere at Family Medicine programs, Northern border region Program (Arar) as per the directions from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialities. Periodically Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) will be conducted for the promotion to the residents to next level entry at the end of year examination. The objective of the present study to find the mean score of different levels of Residents and some demographic variables association with mean OSCE score of different levels (R1 to R4) residents. Methodology: An institutional based cross sectional study was conducted in the month of July 2021. A total of 48 residents participated in the study. Data entered in Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and required statistical tests were applied. Results: In the current study, about two thirds (66.7%) were females. Mean age in the study population was 28.95± 1.35. About 91.7% of residents were in the age group of 25-30 years. In the current study about 95.7% were passed in the OSCE examination. Mean OSCE score in the study population was 70.98 ± 5.51 (M:F OSCE mean scores 73.11 ± 3.57: 69.98 ± 6.00). There was statistically significant association was observed between mean OSCE stations of epilepsy and mean OSCE station of antenatal care with male gender (P-0.001, PWorld0.001). Conclusions: Based on study results, there will be some difference of mean OSCE scores among the different resident levels as well as gender difference. In addition to above, OSCE become popular method for evaluation of all three domains (Knowledge, Attitude and Skill) and it resembles real life scenarios and it contains structured events in the examination for the maintenance of uniformity.

Keywords: OSCE, Mean scores, Family Medicine Residents, Saudi Arabia.