Background The evaluation systems of the clinical learning outcomes in midwifery undergraduate students have shown that in Italy there is an unhomogenous variety of examinations and learning outcome evaluation methods. In literature it is reported that the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) system responds to the criteria of reliability, validity and flexibility, therefore it can be used as a method for an objective evaluation of the clinical learning outcomes of healthcare undergraduate students. Design: Observational study Methods and Instruments Review of the literature and criteria adopted for the selection of scientific papers. Selection of validated tools to appraise OSCE reliability, flexibiliy and validity. Use of the Calgary Cambridge Scale to assess the scope of relational competence. National survey using a cognitive questionnaire. Results In Italy, the evaluation methods of clinical learning outcomes were subdivided according to the taxonomy field: 36.59% on the discussion of clinical cases; 82.9% on the technical-gestural skills; 78% on relational skills. The survey showed that in 19.5% of the exams, OSCE ensured the co-presence of at least 3 examiners. Discussion The number of students not completing their exams within the legal terms was one of the validity indicators adopted by the OSCE system. Findings showed that 36.6% of the undergraduate midwifery courses students had completed their exams within the legal terms. Since this was a moderate percentage and having found that only 4.8% of the undergraduate courses implemented OSCE examinations, we hypothesised that the development of this system could further limit the duration of the teaching programs. Future Perspectives In Italy, the maximum number of midwifery undergraduate students per each school is between 11 and 20. These numbers made it possible to apply the OSCE system because it allowed to compensate the factors limiting its application, that is high costs in terms of human resources, materials and time.
Evaluation of the Clinical Learning Outcomes in Heathcare Undergraduate Students
Siri A;
2011-01-01
Abstract
Background The evaluation systems of the clinical learning outcomes in midwifery undergraduate students have shown that in Italy there is an unhomogenous variety of examinations and learning outcome evaluation methods. In literature it is reported that the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) system responds to the criteria of reliability, validity and flexibility, therefore it can be used as a method for an objective evaluation of the clinical learning outcomes of healthcare undergraduate students. Design: Observational study Methods and Instruments Review of the literature and criteria adopted for the selection of scientific papers. Selection of validated tools to appraise OSCE reliability, flexibiliy and validity. Use of the Calgary Cambridge Scale to assess the scope of relational competence. National survey using a cognitive questionnaire. Results In Italy, the evaluation methods of clinical learning outcomes were subdivided according to the taxonomy field: 36.59% on the discussion of clinical cases; 82.9% on the technical-gestural skills; 78% on relational skills. The survey showed that in 19.5% of the exams, OSCE ensured the co-presence of at least 3 examiners. Discussion The number of students not completing their exams within the legal terms was one of the validity indicators adopted by the OSCE system. Findings showed that 36.6% of the undergraduate midwifery courses students had completed their exams within the legal terms. Since this was a moderate percentage and having found that only 4.8% of the undergraduate courses implemented OSCE examinations, we hypothesised that the development of this system could further limit the duration of the teaching programs. Future Perspectives In Italy, the maximum number of midwifery undergraduate students per each school is between 11 and 20. These numbers made it possible to apply the OSCE system because it allowed to compensate the factors limiting its application, that is high costs in terms of human resources, materials and time.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
