Development of a three-centre simultaneous objective structured clinical examination

Objective To describe the development, organization, implementation and eva luation of a yearly multicentre, identical and simultaneous objective struc tured clinical examination (OSCE). Subjects All fifth-year medical students in a 6-year undergraduate medical programme. Setting The Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington Schools of Medicine of the University of Otago, New Zealand. Method One practice and two full 18-station OSCEs have been completed over 2 years, for up to 72 students per centre, in three centres. The process of development and logistics is described. Data are presented on validity, re liability and fairness. Results Face and content validity were established. Internal consistency wa s 0.83-0.86 and interexaminer reliability, as assessed by the coefficient o f correlation, averaged 0.78. Students rated the OSCE highly on relevance. Of the total variance in total OSCE marks, the schools contributed 6.9%, an d the students 93.1%, in the first year. In the second year the schools con tributed 6.2% and the students 93.8%. Conclusion Implementation of a psychometrically sound, multicentre, simulta neous and identical OSCE is possible with a low level of interschool variat ion.