Implementation of objective structured clinical examination in the veterinary medicine study programme of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences

Abstract

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) has been used in medical education for many decades (Harden and Gleeson, 1979) and is also being gradually introduced in some veterinary schools (Davis et al., 2006; Iatridou et al., 2021). The Veterinary Medicine (VM) study programme in the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) is finalized with an OSCE exam since 2020. The OSCE was conducted remotely in 2021. The professional preparation level of the students, the skills required to obtain the qualification of a veterinarian are assessed by the passed OSCE examination. During the exam students rotate through 22 stations. The OSCE stations were selected to reflect the VM curriculum content and course outcomes and are planned using an assessment blueprint. At each station the student was asked to carry out a specific task for eight minutes. All students pass the same stations, are evaluated by the same examiners using the same criteria. Stations were developed to test course outcomes: clinical skills, practical procedures, patient investigations, diagnostic imaging, patient management, veterinary documentation, communication and biosecurity skills etc. The OSCE tasks were prepared by the lecturers coordinating the modules. Each task was evaluated respectively in a standardized way according to the scoring checklist: well-done, partly done, not done/poor attempt (failed). The evaluation results were processed by a specialized computer programme, applying a cumulative assessment. The exam was considered passed if a student accumulated at least 50% of all possible scores, that corresponds to grade 5 of the maximal 10. The average course grade was 7.67; 7.54 and 7.53 in the year 2020, 2021 and 2022, respectively. The feedback from students was 8.29 points and examiners – 8.9 points on average (2020-222). The principle of an OSCE is also applied to assess the colloquiums in several subjects, and it will be implemented throughout VM study program from the 2026 academic year in LSMU.