Strengthening the planning and design of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations

Abstract

Background: Although Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) offer innovative, objective, and fair methods of clinical assessment, their quality is compromised by poor planning and design.

Aim: This study aimed to describe the development and present evidence-based recommendations on strengthening the planning and design of OSCEs for a South African public College of Nursing.

Setting: A South African public College of Nursing.

Methods: Recommendations were developed based on synthesising two sets of qualitative data. Set 1 included two main themes with each of the four sub-themes related to barriers and facilitators towards quality in OSCE designs from 14 nurse educator interviews and 15 external moderator reports. Set 2 included 12 quality measures to be adopted in the quality design of OSCEs derived from an integrative literature review. The draft recommendations were reviewed by eight experts to be finalised.

Results: Seven recommendations were developed for strengthening OSCEs’ planning and design, related to: (1) policy framework, standard operating procedures and stakeholder code of conduct; (2) blueprinting and mapping of the OSCE content; (3) developing a bank of OSCE stations; (4) scoring rubric and standard-setting method selection; (5) examiners and standardised patients’ recruitment and training; (6) venue selection; and (7) station piloting.

Conclusion: The seven developed recommendations can strengthen the quality of OSCEs in the South African public College of Nursing context.

Contribution: The developed recommendations can assist nurse educators in planning and designing to conduct quality OSCEs following piloting and implementation.