Impact of tablet-scoring and immediate score sheet review on validity and educational impact in an internal medicine residency Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE)

Med Teach. 2019 Sep;41(9):1039-1044. doi: 10.1080/0142159X.2019.1615609. Epub 2019 May 26.

Abstract

Introduction: The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is used globally for formative and summative purposes. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of tablet-scoring on sources of validity evidence for an Internal Medicine residency OSCE. Methods: We compared paper-scored OSCEs from 2014 to tablet-scored OSCEs in 2015 for missing data, amount of comments, and time to pass/fail decision. We then examined in 2016 the impact on learning of showing residents their score sheets and asking them to write an action plan immediately after an OSCE. Results: Tablet-scoring significantly reduced stations with missing data from 1.8 to 0.2%, and stations without comments from 42 to 28% with an increase in word count per comment. Time to official results reduced from 3 weeks to 12 h with tablet-scoring. Residents who wrote a learning plan after reviewing their OSCE score sheets were more likely (with medium to large effect sizes) to pursue further studying and/or change their behavior (e.g. history taking or physical examination) in the clinical environment. Conclusions: OSCE tablet-scoring improved many sources of validity evidence, especially educational impact with timeliness of feedback supporting a change in behavior, a hard to achieve goal of educational interventions.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Alberta
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Clinical Competence*
  • Computers, Handheld* / economics
  • Educational Measurement / economics
  • Educational Measurement / methods*
  • Humans
  • Internal Medicine / education*
  • Internship and Residency
  • Learning
  • Schools, Medical
  • Students, Medical / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires