Quality management of objective structured clinical examinations: An integrative literature review

• Published in: Nurse education today Vol. 109; p. 105223
• Main Authors: Nyangeni, Thandolwakhe, van Rooyen, Dalena (R.M.), Du Plessis, Allison Herelene, ten Ham-Baloyi, Wilma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2022; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Best practice; Clinical assessment; Clinical examinations; Clinical research; Clinical training; Credibility; Humanities; Humans; Literature reviews; Management; Medical education; Moderation; Nurse education; Nursing education; Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs); Physical Examination; Psychometrics; Qualitative Research; Quality; Quality management; Quality of education; Rigour; Science Education; Science Instruction; Standardized tests; Clinical examinations; Management; Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs); Nurse education; Quality
• ISSN: 0260-6917; 1532-2793
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2021.105223

Objective Structured Clinical Examinations are widely adopted as a clinical assessment method in nurse education. Quality is an integral aspect of the design and implementation of OSCEs, facilitating their credibility and rigour. However, there is a dearth of literature regarding the management of the quality of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations.
To summarise existing literature regarding best practices on the management of the quality of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations in health science education.
An integrative literature review.
EBSCOhost, including CINAHL, eBook Collection, E-journals, ERIC, Health Source-Consumer Edition, Health Source-Nursing/Academic Edition, Humanities International Complete and MEDLINE, together with Cochrane Online, PubMed, Taylor & Francis Online and ScienceDirect, were searched, followed by hand searching of references as well as a manual search for grey literature, using Google.
Using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, research documents (experimental, non-experimental, descriptive and qualitative studies), non-research documents (editorials, opinion letters), including grey literature, published between January 2010 and March 2021.
A total of thirteen (n = 13) studies were included in the review. A total of 22 quality measures were identified, which should be applied in the preparation and planning, implementation and evaluation phases of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations. The preparation and planning phase is crucial for the quality of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, as more than half (n = 12) of the 22 quality measures were identified in this phase.
There is limited available recorded evidence that defines and describes the management of the quality of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations. Future research should focus on the context-specific use of psychometric analysis to ensure generation of valid, objective and consistent assessment during Objective Structured Clinical Examinations. More rigorous large-scale studies (such as quantitative or randomised controlled trials) regarding management of variances amongst examiner scores, impact of moderation on Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, and virtual Objective Structured Clinical Examinations should be conducted.
•Limited evidence is available regarding the management of the quality of OSCEs.•Quality measures must be applied in OSCEs' preparation and planning, implementation and evaluation phases.•Further exploration regarding management of examiner variances, moderation and virtual OSCEs is needed.