gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: Learning clinical skills is an important part of medical education. Acquired skills can be tested and evaluated in different ways. One of the possibilities is the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). OSCE at MFUM consists of five stations: history taking, abdomen, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and musculoskeletal system.

Methods: We compared the results of OSCE from academic years 2022/23 (86 students) and 2023/24 (106 students). Students from the year 2022/23 did not receive evaluation forms as learning material, whereas students from the year 2023/24 did. We focused on the percentages achieved and time required to complete an examination.

Results:Overall OSCE results achieved were significantly higher in students 2023/24 (p<0.001) and in following examinations specifically: history-taking (p=0.021), cardiovascular system (p<0.001), respiratory system (p<0.001) and musculoskeletal system (p=0.019).

Comparing the time required for an examination, there was a statistically significant improvement (less time required to complete an examination) in the year 2023/24 in history-taking examination (p=0,025) and locomotor system examination (p=0,028).

Conclusion: There was a statistically significant difference in comparing overall OSCE results between students in different academic years. Results show improvement in students who have previously received evaluation forms as learning materials. There was also a statistically significant difference in specific examinations: history-taking, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and locomotor system. There was less time required for a history-taking and locomotor system examination in students 2023/24.