Examining the Associations Between Objective Structured Clinical Examination Scores and Fieldwork Performance

• In Event: The Parker Hotel Roundtable 1
  In Roundtable Session: Assessment of Learner's Performance Roundtable

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the associations between scores obtained on objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and on fieldwork placements within an occupational therapy program. Scores from four OSCEs and four fieldwork evaluations were obtained for one cohort of 95 occupational therapy students. Associations between holistic OSCE scores and overall fieldwork scores were investigated using Spearman’s Rank Order correlations, cross tabulations and contingency table analyses. The results provide limited validity evidence for the use of OSCEs to predict subsequent performance in fieldwork. Study findings suggest that additional validity studies may be beneficial, as part of ongoing validation, to inform revisions to early program OSCEs and to support appropriate use of the fieldwork evaluation tool by preceptors.

Authors

• Mary Roduta Roberts, University of Alberta

• Cecilia Brito Alves, Medical Council of Canada

• Karin Werther, University of Alberta