Perception of Nursing Teaching Staff on the Use of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE): Assessment Method

Abstract

Background: Assessment of clinical competence is an important issue in nursing education and the utilization of objective structured clinical evaluation for that purpose was considered to be very important so perception of nursing teaching staff is important for developing the in exam methodology and organization. The aim of the study: to describe the perceptions of nursing teaching staff regarding Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study was used in this study. Setting: study was conducted in Faculty of Nursing, Assiut University. Sample: A total number of 133 convenient samples of nursing teaching staff were included in the study Tools: A self-administered questionnaire of perception about OSCE. The questionnaire comprise of six parts, (Likert scale) regarding the nursing staffs' perception of OSCE question/ station, exam organization, exam atmosphere, student performance, advantages of OSCE and disadvantages of OSCE. Results: The mean age of studied sample was 36.39 year. About two third of nursing teaching staff agreed that OSCE scores (marks) provided true measure of essential clinical skills needed by student in different disciplines, 75.2% of nursing staff members agreed that exam was fair while 45.9% of studied sample agreed that exam highlighted areas of students' weakness. Most of sample agreed that OSCE exam was well organized, while only (51.1%) of sample agreed that more time was needed at each station. 47.4% agreed that the environment motivated students to learn, 72.9% agreed that atmosphere was calm, while 23.3% and 27.1% agreed that exam was intimidating (frightening) and exam was very stressful respectively. Moderate correlation and significant between nursing staff members perception of students performance and their age, r = 0.196 and p= 0.024. There are significant differences between disadvantages of OSCE their occupation p= 0.003. Also positive perception of nursing teaching staff regarding OSCE exam was positive (90.1%). Conclusion: positive for all the domains in the questionnaire and total perception of nursing staff members regarding OSCE exam was very positively. The majority of nursing staff members reported that preparation of stations requires more resources and continuous process. Recommendations: Students should also be trained for this type of exam; the best way is to start examining them using this strategy (OSCE) earlier and more is staff needed for this type of exams and more training should be done to staff through journal club.