The OSCE as a Tool for the Evaluation of a Pre-Departure Training Program: A Pilot Study

Ammara Ghumman, Audrey Tran, Christopher Foster, Neil Arya

ABSTRACT

As the number of medical students completing international electives increases, so does the need for appropriate pre-departure training (PDT) programs. Although PDT programs, based on guidelines developed by the Canadian Federation of Medical Students (CFMS), are available across Canada, little information is available on program effectiveness. Our pilot study, using an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) methodology, demonstrated variable OSCE performance following PDT. Participant scores improved in the areas of travel safety, language competency, and cultural competency, and declined in the areas of ethics and personal health after PDT. Our study was limited by a small sample size, the lack of formal validation of our OSCE cases, and its specificity to one particular training program. A literature review addressing the use of the OSCE methodology, as well as the results of our pilot study using this methodology, are discussed here. We conclude that the OSCE shows great future potential in global health training.

Full text (PDF, 568KB)

Ghumman A, Tran A, Foster C, Arya N. The OSCE as a Tool for the Evaluation of a Pre-Departure Training Program: A Pilot Study. UBCMJ 2013 5(1):42-44.