Prior participation as a standardized patient improves OSCE scores of third-year medical students: A pilot comparative study at Universite Paris Cite Medical School

ObjectiveObjective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) are one of the main modalities of skills' assessment of medical students. We aimed to evaluate the educational value of the participation of third-year medical students in OSCE as standardized patients.MethodsWe conducted a pilot OSCE session where third-year students participated in sixth-year students' OSCE as standardized patients (cases). Their scores in their own subsequent OSCE exams were compared with third-year students who had not participated (controls). Students' perceptions (stress, preparedness, ease) regarding their OSCE were compared with self-administered questionnaires.ResultsA total of 42 students were included (9 cases and 33 controls). Median [IQR] overall score (out of 20 points) obtained by the cases was 17 [16.3-18] versus 14.5 [12.7-16.3] for controls (p < 0.001). Students' perception of their evaluation (difficulty, stress, communication) was not significantly different between cases and controls. Most cases agreed that their participation was beneficial in reducing their stress (67%), increasing their preparedness (78%) and improving their communication skills (100%). All cases agreed that this participation should be offered more widely.ConclusionStudents' participation in OSCE as standardized patients led to better performance on their own OSCE and were considered beneficial. This approach could be more broadly generalized to improve student performance.Practice pointsObjective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) are one of the main modalities of skills assessment for medical students.Early participation in OSCE of third-year medical students as standardized patients resulted in better scores in their own subsequent OSCE.Most students claimed that their participation as standardized patients was beneficial in reducing their stress, increasing their preparedness and improving their communication skills.