The Effect of Feedback on Objective Structured Clinical Examinations: A Quasi-experimental study

Todays the Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE) are used as new and valid tools for assess clinical skills of medical students and residents. Considering the importance and essentiality of these exams, this study was designed and conducted to assess effect using feedback for correcting the weaknesses and promoting the positive points of designing and performing this type of clinical exams.

This Quasi-experimental study was performed by using a valid and reliable researcher made questionnaire consist of principles of the OSCEs. At the first phase, the10 residency’s OSCEs were observed and completed questionnaires by researchers and randomly divided two groups: control and witness. At the second phase the feedback of exams presented to faculty OSCE designers in control group. At the third phase the next OSCEs that designed by two groups were observed and evaluated. Data gathered entered in SPSS-15 and results compared by t-test and Paired t- test.

After assimilation scores of two groups before intervention, there was significant statistical difference between before and after intervention in intervention group (pediatrics, gynecology, anesthesiology, internal medicine and pathology) (P<0.003) but there wasn’t significant difference in witness group.

Using feedback confirm this technic by the experts in medical education can correct and promote quality of designing and performing of OSCEs