Main description:

This book highlights the basic concepts underpinning the OSCE, its development and implementation in practice. Practical guidelines and tips are provided based on the authors' extensive experience gained over 40 years. Case studies are included to illustrate the OSCE's use in a wide range of settings and professions to assess the expected learning outcomes. The text is supplemented with personal accounts and anecdotes.

Used globally in all phases of education in the different healthcare professions, the OSCE was first described by the lead author, Harden, in 1975 and it is now the gold standard for performance assessment.

"This book is an invaluable addition. It pulls together in one place pretty well everything that is known about the OSCE; what works and what doesn't. It is a welcome addition to the bookshelf of any educational leader." Geoff Norman's Foreword

This book provides a full understanding of the basic concepts underpinning the OSCE and shows how to implement an OSCE effectively and efficiently in a variety of contexts.
It includes case studies demonstrating the use of the OSCE in practice in a range of different fields.
Practical guidelines and tips are provided based on the authors' extensive experience.

Contents:

An introduction to the Objective Structured Clinical Examination

What is an OSCE?
The inside story of the development of the OSCE
The OSCE as the gold standard for performance assessment
How the OSCE can contribute to the education programme
What is assessed in an OSCE?

Implementation of an OSCE

Choosing a format for an OSCE
The setting for an OSCE
The patient
The examiner
Implementing an OSCE
Evaluating the examinee's performance
Providing feedback to the learner
The examinee's perspective
Evaluating an OSCE
Costs and implementing an OSCE with limited resources

Some final thoughts

Limitations of the OSCE
Conclusions and looking to the future

Examples of the use of the OSCE in different settings and contexts: case studies