Use of an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) for early identification of communication skills deficits in interns.

Link to article at PubMed

Use of an objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) for early identification of communication skills deficits in interns.

Med Teach. 2017 Oct 18;:1-5

Authors: Goldhamer MEJ, Cohen A, Brooks M, Macklin EA, Co JPT, Weinstein D

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: There is limited information about whether OSCE during GME orientation can identify trainee communication deficits before these become evident via clinical performance evaluations.
METHODS: Ninety-seven interns matriculating to eight residency programs in six specialties at four hospitals participated in a nine-station communication skills OSCE. Ratings were based on the "Kalamazoo, adapted" communication skills checklist. Possible association with intern performance evaluations was assessed by repeated-measures logistic regression and ROC curves were generated.
RESULTS: The mean OSCE score was 4.08 ± 0.27 with a range of 3.3-4.6. Baseline OSCE scores were associated with subsequent communication concerns recorded by faculty, based on 1591 evaluations. A 0.1-unit decrease in the OSCE communication score was associated with an 18% higher odds of being identified with a communication concern by faculty evaluation (odds ratio 1.18, 95% CI 1.01-1.36, p = 0.034). ROC curves did not demonstrate a "cut-off" score (AUC= 0.558). Non-faculty evaluators were 3-5 times more likely than faculty evaluators to identify communication deficits, based on 1900 evaluations.
CONCLUSIONS: Lower OSCE performance was associated with faculty communication concerns on performance evaluations; however, a "cut-off" score was not demonstrated that could identify trainees for potential early intervention. Multi-source evaluation also identified trainees with communication skills deficits.

PMID: 29043879 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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