Students’ Perception of Surgical Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) at Final Year MBBS, University of Khartoum, Sudan

Background: There is a lack of in-depth research into medical students’ perceptions regarding Surgical Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Objective: To determine the undergraduate student’s perception regarding surgical OSCE. Methodology: The study conducted in Soba Hospital OSCE center using a self-administered questionnaire at the end of the surgical OSCE examination for final MBBS, University of Khartoum that held in December 2013. Main outcome measures were student perception of examination attributes. The collected data was analyzed statistically using SPSS version 21. Results:Total 297 final year medical students voluntarily and anonymously completed a self-administered questionnaire at the end of the OSCE examination. OSCE was considered as a fair examination method by 87.2% students. More than half of the students rated this examination as covering wide range of knowledge (58.6%), improves clinical skills and knowledge (68.4%), and is very useful and relevant to study and the type of work students will be doing after graduation (79.1%). Among respondents 87.2% highlighted OSCE may influence methods of teaching and 69.4% stated that it should be followed as the method of assessment in undergraduate surgical examination. Conclusion:OSCE was highly appreciated by the students as a tool to evaluate clinical competence among surgical students.