The Project Team was confident with the novel approach taken in re-designing the curriculum: to include a dedicated clinical skills programme, together with addition of the testing of clinical skills using the OSCE model. These curriculum changes were deemed to be highly appropriate additions to the student experience in determination of skill performance of students prior to clinical placement.

The authors are confident that the assessment tool is valid and reliable and measures skill performance objectively. A high level of skill attainment was observed in most students by about the mid-point in training: this allows the student to consolidate these skills in the latter stages of training which is in keeping with educational and practice philosophy of placement learning outcomes.

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