A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Dental students' perceptions of simultaneous live and online OSCEs during the COVID-19 pandemic




AuthorsTuononen Tiina, Karaharju-Suvanto Terhi, Lahti Satu, Hytönen Hanna, Näpänkangas Ritva

PublisherWILEY

Publication year2023

JournalEuropean Journal of Dental Education

Journal name in sourceEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DENTAL EDUCATION

ISSN1396-5883

eISSN1600-0579

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12962

Web address https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eje.12962

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/181865104


Abstract

Introduction
The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a valid, reliable and reproducible assessment method traditionally carried out as a live examination but recently also provided online. The aim was to compare any differences in the perceptions of dental students participating in online and live OSCE using mixed methods.

Materials and Methods
All Finnish fourth-year undergraduate dental students (n = 172) attended the exam in April 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the official administrative restrictions in teaching in universities still existed in April 2021. By the time of the national OSCE, the pandemic situation varied in different parts of the country. Therefore, two of the universities conducted a live OSCE and two an online version of the OSCE. Data were collected after the OSCE using a voluntary anonymous electronic questionnaire with multiple-choice and open-ended questions (response rate 58%). Differences between the OSCE versions were analysed using the Mann–Whitney U test and open answers with qualitative content analysis.

Results
The students considered both types of OSCE good in general. The main differences were found concerned adequate time allocation and overall technical implementation, in favour of the live OSCE. While a qualitative analysis revealed exam anxiety as the most often mentioned negative issue, overall, comments were positive.

Conclusion
Variation in the assessments between different question entities seemed to be wider than between the implemented OSCE versions. Time management in the OSCE should be further developed by managing the assignment of tasks.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.





Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 22:35