Tutor–Student Partnership in Practice OSCE to Enhance Medical Education

Abstract

Background Training of examiners is essential to ensure the quality of objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). We aimed to study a perceived effectiveness of tutor-student partnership in a practice OSCE module by novice OSCE tutors and medical students. Method We implemented a practice OSCE at a medical faculty in France with novice tutors and third year medical students as partners. Each tutor (n = 44) served as a partner for the group of 5 students in the conception of the scenario and as an evaluator of the tutored station. Students (n = 303) were involved in the conception of a case and the roles of a physician, evaluator and a simulated patient. Data were obtained through self-assessment questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze items of the questionnaires. Free-form answers were coded and analyzed thematically. Results A total of 36 tutors (82%) and 185 students (61%) responded to the questionnaires. The intervention was well perceived. Thirty-two percent of the tutors reported some difficulties in the assessment of student performance and were disposed to receive further training. Fifty-five percent of the students considered the participation in the OSCE case development appropriate to their level of knowledge, and 70% perceived it as beneficial allowing them to set their learning goals. Conclusion This initiative provides a relevant method beneficial to OSCE tutors, medical students, and the faculty. Tutors learn how to assess student performance according to expected achievement levels. It allows students to be engaged as partners in co-creation of learning and teaching.

Standardized patients’ training for a high-stakes OSCE: Experience from a French medical school

“…In a qualitative study conducted in Switzerland on a sample of 15 SPs from 8 nursing schools and medical schools, SPs reported motivation and interest to participate in pedagogical activities, and at the same time highlighted the importance of supportive work conditions [21]. Recently, we have shown that the partnership between learners and their educators in the elaboration of pedagogical tools is bene cial for both learning and teaching [22].…”