Use of OSCE in undergraduate assessment of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences – Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain

Sep 20, 2026

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The College of Medicine and Medical Sciences (CMMS) at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) implemented OSCE for undergraduate Psychiatry assessment early in the Arab world. The paper outlines assessment methods at CMMS with emphasis on OSCE content, examination structure, and learning outcomes, including results from applying the program. It describes approximately 20 OSCE stations, with at least two dedicated to Psychiatry, and concludes that OSCE provides a valid and fair test of clinically relevant abilities for future medical practice.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The OSCE in Psychiatry

The Content

The Outcome

Medical JBMS Journal of the Bahrain Medical Society Education Use of OSCE in undergraduate assessment of Psychiatry at the College of Medicine and Medical Sciences – Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain M.K.Al-Haddad, MRC Psych, FRC Psych 1 ملخ􀁺ص إان كلية الطب والعلوم الطبية في جامعة الخليج العربي قد تكون اأول كلية طب في العالم العربي تطبق امتحان الــ OSCE في تقييمطلبة كلية الطب في م􀁷صتوى البكالوريو􀀳س. تت􀁺صمن الورقة و􀀵صف لطرق تقييم اأداء الطلبة في كلية الطب بجامعة الخليج العربي مع التركيز على ا 􀀳صتخدام امتحان الــ OSCE و􀀴صرح محتواه ونتائج تطبيقه وتخل􀁹س الدرا 􀀳صة إالى امتحان الــ OSCE هو امتحان منا 􀀳صب لفح􀁹س القدرات العملية والعلميةاللازمة لم􀁷صتقبل الطلبة في ممار􀀳صة الطب. Abstract The college of Medicine and Medical Sciences (CMMS) at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) is amongst the first Medical Schools in the Arab World to implement OSCE in Undergraduate assessment of Psychiatry. Despite the matured implementation of OSCE, as a valuable assessment tool, in other medical fields it remains a novelty in terms of its application in Psychiatry. This paper provides a description of assessment methods at CMMS with particular emphasis on the use of OSCE, its content, examination structure, and learning outcomes and conclusions derived from implementation and application of the program. Overarching results indicate that OSCE is a valid and fair test of the immediately relevant abilities relevant to their future careers within the medical field of pratice. Key words: CMMS, AGU, OSCE, Assessment. Introduction Amidst the Arab world, the college of Medicine and Medical Sciences (CMMS) at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) was amongst the first institutes to implement a problembased curriculum within the faculty of Medicine. The total objectives of the problem-based curriculum are structured to cover a thorough and wide-ranging span of medical disciplines divided into two distinct phases. Phase I of the program covers the study of Health Sciences based on simulated health problems and phase II addresses rotation within clinical clerkship. Within the overall program, the Psychiatric objectives constitute approximately 3. 5% of the total objectives of the curriculum(1) . It is expected that with this, students will be equipped to achieve a level of competence in the general objectives and studies relevant to Psychiatry. Through-out the course of the program, examination of the curriculum is conducted via integrated forms of assessment, which engage students in cross-disciplinary evaluations rather than segregated exams. Moreover, the division of the curriculum into problem blocks, associated with medical issues, allows for end of block assessments conducted on both written and clinical levels. Summative examinations are also conducted at the end of each year with written and clinical examinations. Individual disciplines are assessed in the final qualifying examinations within Phase II, where clinical examinations are conducted in accordance to separate disciplines. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) consists of approximately 20 stations. Various clinical specialties are accounted for within these stations, including Psychiatry and basic Sciences, represented in various appraisal formats including slide analysis, specimens, and diagnostic records amongst others. The OSCE has long become a respected and widely used tool for the assessment of clinical competence in Psychiatry. Its validity and reliability has been reported and proven by numerous researches (2,3,4,5) . Amongst other tools, the Watched Structure Clinical Examination (WASCE) has also been used and validated as an assessment tool in various Behavioral Sciences and end of Clinical rotations in the CMMS, AGU(6,7) . The OSCE in Psychiatry Of the 20 noted stations within the noted curriculum, no less than two are allocated to the discipline of Psychiatry, whilst the rest cover various disciplines such as General Medicine, Surgery, Pedi

FAQs

How many OSCE stations are included in the assessment structure described in the paper?

The OSCE consists of approximately 20 stations, with students rotating through stations at five-minute intervals.

What parts of the OSCE are dedicated to Psychiatry?

At least two stations are allocated to Psychiatry, where students attend to a simulated patient, usually a psychiatric nurse.

What does the paper say about the validity of OSCE for Psychiatry assessment?

The paper reports that OSCE has long been a respected tool in Psychiatry assessment and that its validity and reliability have been supported by multiple research studies.

Sep 20, 2026

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