Comparing Virtual Reality–Based and Traditional Physical Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Stations for Clinical Competency Assessments: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

• DOI: 10.2196/preprints.55066
• Publication Date: 2023-12-05T01:17:47Z
• Authors: Tobias Mühling; Verena Schreiner; Marc Appel; Tobias Leutritz; Sarah König
• Keywords: Preprint

<sec> <title>BACKGROUND</title> Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) are a widely recognized and accepted method to assess competencies but often resource-intensive. Moreover, they may not comprehensively capture the complexity of emergency scenarios. </sec> <title>OBJECTIVE</title> This study aimed evaluate feasibility effectiveness virtual reality (VR) station compared traditional physical stations in an already established curricular OSCE. <title>METHODS</title> Fifth-year medical students participated OSCE that included ten total, with one dedicated medicine offered two formats featuring scenarios septic anaphylactic shock each format. Participants were randomly divided into groups, participating either virtual-reality (VRS) or (PHS). Student performance item characteristics analyzed focusing on five other case-based stations; four technical-skills-oriented excluded from this study. perceptions recorded as part post-examination online survey acceptance usability VR. <title>RESULTS</title> Following randomization exclusions invalid datasets, 57 66 participants assessed for VRS PHS, respectively. The (septic shock) integrated well demonstrated balanced level difficulty (P = 0.67 0.58, respectively) average 0.68 across all stations. They exhibited above-average values respect discrimination (r' 0.40/0.33, overall 0.30) index (D 0.25/0.26, 0.16). participant responses emphasized realistic portrayal emergencies fair assessment conditions provided. However, there was some hesitancy towards its broader application future practical assessments, highlighting need both further familiarization maintaining interaction simulated patients. <title>CONCLUSIONS</title> Integration current framework proved feasible technically organizationally, even within strict constraints short examination phases schedules. positively received by various levels technological proficiency, including those no prior VR experience. Notably, comparable superior characteristics, particularly terms power. While challenges remain, such technical reliability concerns, remains promising applications competence assessment.