Breaking Down the Objective Structured Clinical Examination

Abstract

As summative and formative assessments of performance in simulated neonatal resuscitation, the HBB OSCEs are effective because most learners were able to perform the skills correctly after an HBB workshop. On the basis of our results, we recommend changes to future editions of HBB, including the following: simplification of multistep items to single tasks, use of a global rating scale, provision of additional scenarios, and specific instructions to raters on how to grade OSCEs and promote self-reflection to enhance debriefings/feedback. Further validation and study of the OSCEs in the second edition of HBB would enhance their quality and translation into clinical performance.