Designing and running an online Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) on Zoom: A peer-led example

Abstract

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic threatened medical teaching and progression secondary to the ‘lockdown’ measures which limit physical interactions. Consequently, there was a necessity to shift medical teaching and assessment online. Our challenge was to logistically organise and conduct an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) using a virtual, socially distanced approach.

Methods

We found that Zoom offered the most suitable functionality in mimicking a physical OSCE online and its breakout rooms were used to represent different stations. One organiser manually transferred candidates between stations, allowing for the OSCE to operate punctually. Examiners screen shared to display an automated slideshow with station vignettes, investigation results, and viva questions.

Results

Participants found the use of Zoom’s features to be extremely beneficial with one candidate describing the experience as ‘brilliant, very efficient and smooth’. Numerous aspects of the OSCE from decision making, to verbal communication, to medical knowledge were assessed, equivalent to a physical OSCE.

Discussion

As the transformation of medical education is catalysed by the pandemic, it is important to ensure that peer to peer teaching and assessments are revolutionised with a quality similar to that of physical teaching. We have displayed how this may be achieved in an OSCE setting using Zoom teleconferencing.

Keywords:

• OSCE
• medical education
• communication
• Web-OSCE
• virtual medicine

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Glossary

End-to-end encrypted: A method of securing data and preventing third-party access by encrypting data on the sender's system or device with only the recipient being able to decrypt it.

What is end-to-end encryption (E2EE)? – Definition from WhatIs.com. (2020). Retrieved 24 July 2020, from https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/end-to-end-encryption-E2EE#:∼:text=End%2Dto%2Dend%20encryption%20(E2EE)%20is%20a%20method,is%20able%20to%20decrypt%20it.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tufayl A. Hannan

Tufayl A. Hannan, MBBS Finalist, is currently medical student finalist at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Safwan Y. Umar

Safwan Y. Umar, BSc, MBBS Finalist, is currently medical student finalist at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Zakaria Rob

Zakaria Rob, MBBS, BSc, is presently FY1 doctor and graduate of Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Rakin R. Choudhury

Rakin R. Choudhury, MBBS, BSc, is presently FY1 doctor and graduate of Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.