Objective structured clinical examination vs traditional clinical examination: An evaluation of students’ perception and preference in a Nigerian medical school

BACKGROUND: Method of testing clinical competence of medical students in this setting has been controversial. This report evaluates the perceptions and preferences of 5(th) and 6(th) year medical students about traditional clinical examination (TCE) and objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire, administered to 156 students, who had been previously exposed to TCE and OSCE. RESULTS: There were 110 (70.5%) males and 46 (29.5%) females, with median age group of 26–30 years. One hundred and thirty-one respondents (84%) felt TCE is more difficult and 20 (12.8%) felt OSCE was more difficult. One hundred and forty-two (91%) felt OSCE was easier to pass, 8 (5.1%) felt TCE was easier to pass and 6 (3.8%) were undecided. Majority of the 5(th) and 6(th) year students (95.5% and 100%, respectively) preferred OSCE for assessment. In relation to validity and reliability of OSCE, 124 (79.5%) of all the students felt it provides a true measure of essential clinical skills, 130 (83.3%) felt its scores are standardised, 143 (91.7%) felt it is a practical and useful experience and 135 (86.5%) felt students’ personality, ethnicity and gender will not affect OSCE scores. Overall, there were no significant differences in preference and perceptions between 5(th) and 6(th) year students and between males and females. CONCLUSION: Students preferred OSCE as method of assessing clinical competence and considered it a more valid and reliable method of examination.