Video-assisted reflection: improving OSCE feedback

Abstract

Background: Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are commonly used to provide feedback to students on their performance in formative examinations. However, students are often unable to act independently on the feedback they receive. This study explored how the use of video-assisted reflection in OSCEs can enhance students' ability to reflect and engage in sustainable feedback.

Methods: Twenty-one students undertaking a mock-final OSCE consented to have one of their examination stations filmed. Participants completed a series of reflective forms immediately after the OSCE, after verbal feedback from an examiner and finally, after watching the video of their own performance. Students were asked to predict their overall grade as well as list areas for improvement. Pearson r correlations examined the relationship between the examiners' grades and the candidates' self-predicted grades. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare the length of reflections at each stage. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore students' beliefs on self-efficacy and how the video-assisted reflection altered their ability to act on feedback.

Results: The students' ability to self-assess and gauge their own performance improved significantly after undertaking the video-assisted reflection (p < 0.01). Furthermore, video-assisted reflection significantly increased the length of the student's reflections. In interviews, participants described multiple ways in which the video-assisted reflection improved their confidence and ability to act on feedback, highlighting a clear enhancement in self-efficacy.

Discussion: Video-assisted reflection of recorded OSCE stations represents an effective approach to increase student self-efficacy and subsequently improve engagement in sustainable feedback practice.