Abstract
Objective
To design an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) method for evaluation
of medical students in practical immunology course and to compare their perceptions
regarding OSCE with Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Oral examination.
Methods
A total of 42 students who had practical immunology course were included in the
study. A series of 10 stations were established for OSCE. At each station the students
were given a patient description were asked to answer questions for results and
interpretation of tests within two minutes. Then, the MCQ examination consisting of
10 questions and oral examination with 10 same questions were conducted. Finally, a
questionnaire regarding the quality of examination, being easy, being educative, being
fair, and being suitable for evaluating tools for skills and anxiety were filled by
students.
Results
OSCE, MCQ and Oral examination were perceived easy by 66.7%, 81% and 81% of
students and were considered educative by 90.5%, 59.5% and 76.2% of students,
respectively. Educative value of OSCE was thought to be significantly higher than
MCQ (P<0.003). OSCE, MCQ and Oral examination were fair by 85.7%, 90.5% and
73.8% of students, respectively. A large proportion of students believed the fairness
of MCQ was significantly higher as compared to Oral examination (P<0.04). Higher
proportion of students reported that OSCE were suitable tools for evaluation of the
practical skills as compared to MCQ and Oral examination (78.6% v 54.8% and
52.4%, respectively; P<0.02). OSCE, MCQ and Oral examination were stressful for
64.3%, 23.8% and 73.8% of students. Anxiety of MCQ was significantly lower in
comparison to OSCE and oral examination (P<0.00001). In all methods, the anxiety
was higher in females in comparison to males but only in QSCE method the
frequency of female who had anxiety (80%) was significantly higher as compared to
males (50%, P<0.05). Moreover, 81% of students agreed for evaluation of practical
immunology with using of OSCE method.
Conclusion
Although, higher proportion of students had stressful feeling during OSCE method,
majority believed that the OSCE was educational, fair and suitable tools for
evaluation of skills. The OSCE was an acceptable method by majority of students to
assess practical Immunology skills. Accordingly, the OSCE should be considered for
evaluation of practical courses of medical students. (Rawal Med J 2009;34: ).

Key words: Evaluation, OSCE, Multiple choice questions, Oral examamination.