Purpose Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) restrictions resulted in an increased emphasis on virtual communication in medical education. This study assessed the acceptability of virtual teaching in an online objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) series and its role in future education.
Methods Six surgical OSCE stations were designed, covering common surgical topics, with specific tasks testing data interpretation, clinical knowledge, and communication skills. These were delivered via Zoom to students who participated in student/patient/examiner role-play. Feedback was collected by asking students to compare online teaching with previous experiences of in-person teaching. Descriptive statistics were used for Likert response data, and thematic analysis for free-text items.
Results Sixty-two students provided feedback, with 81% of respondents finding online instructions preferable to paper equivalents. Furthermore, 65% and 68% found online teaching more efficient and accessible, respectively, than in-person teaching. Only 34% found communication with each other easier online; Forty percent preferred online OSCE teaching to in-person teaching. Students also expressed feedback in positive and negative free-text comments.
Conclusion The data suggested that generally students were unwilling for online teaching to completely replace in-person teaching. The success of online teaching was dependent on the clinical skill being addressed; some were less amenable to a virtual setting. However, online OSCE teaching could play a role alongside in-person teaching.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Perception of online learning, knowledge assessment, and clinical skills among third-year ophthalmology residents studying during the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Wanicha Chuenkongkaew, Jimethat Chalermpong, Weerawat Kiddee, Prut Hanutsaha, Anita Manassakorn, Olan Suwan-apichon, Sakchai Vongkittirux, Raveewan Choontanom, Pittaya Phamonvaechavan, Tharnsook Kasemsup, Paradee Kunavisarut, Sudawadee Somboonthanakij, Su Scientific Reports.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
The assessment of clinical competence in medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review Harry McGrath, Elysha Brennan, Dominic Harmon Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971 -).2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Evaluation of a virtual objective structured clinical examination in the metaverse (Second Life) to assess the clinical skills in emergency radiology of medical students in Spain: a cross-sectional study Alba Virtudes Perez-Baena, Teodoro Rudolphi-Solero, Rocio Lorenzo-Alvarez, Dolores Dominguez-Pinos, Miguel Jose Ruiz-Gomez, Francisco Sendra-Portero Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions.2025; 22: 12. CrossRef
A Comparative Study of Student Perspectives on Online Versus In-Person Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Teaching at a Medical School in London Nimalesh Yogarajah, Aniket Bharadwaj, Amelia Snook, Vashist Motkur Cureus.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Feasibility and reliability of the pandemic-adapted online-onsite hybrid graduation OSCE in Japan Satoshi Hara, Kunio Ohta, Daisuke Aono, Toshikatsu Tamai, Makoto Kurachi, Kimikazu Sugimori, Hiroshi Mihara, Hiroshi Ichimura, Yasuhiko Yamamoto, Hideki Nomura Advances in Health Sciences Education.2024; 29(3): 949. CrossRef
Should Virtual Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Teaching Replace or Complement Face-to-Face Teaching in the Post-COVID-19 Educational Environment: An Evaluation of an Innovative National COVID-19 Teaching Programme Charles Gamble, Alice Oatham, Raj Parikh Cureus.2023;[Epub] CrossRef