Assessing the Objective Structured Clinical Examination: Saudi family medicine undergraduate medical students' perceptions of the tool.

Objectives: To assess the perception and opinion of the medical students about Obejective Structured Clinical Examination.

Method: The descriptive study was conducted at King Saud University College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from March to May 2010. Total population sampling, which is a type of purposive sampling technique, was used. A structured pre-tested questionnaire was circulated among the undergraduate medical students doing Family Medicine clerkship immediately at the end of Objective Structured Clinical Examination.

Results: Of the 97 questionnaires distributed, 95 (98%) were received. A number of positive aspects of the OSCE exam were identified by students such as 63 (66%) felt that it provided practical and useful experience; 63 (66%) perceived as having a positive impact on student learning; 62 (65%) stated it is a standardised exam; 53 (56%) felt that it should be used more often in undergraduate assessment; 54 (57%) stated that it evaluated a wide variety of clinical skills; 50 (53%) stated that the format allowed students to compensate for deficiency in some areas; 49 (52%) were of the opinion that the exam was fair; 45 (47%) preferred it over other forms of assessment; 39 (41%) perceived exam scores to be truly reflective of competence in clinical skills; and 34 (35%) felt that the format minimises chances of failure. Also, 46 (48% found it to be stressful, and 38 (40%) found it not easy.

Conclusions: Overall, the Objective Structured Clinical Examination was perceived very positively and welcomed by the undergraduate family medicine students. Certain negative perceptions such as stress and difficulty were also highlighted, which could be managed through better orientation and preparation of the students.