The integration of child psychiatry into a psychiatry clerkship OSCE.

OBJECTIVE

To integrate child psychiatry into a psychiatry clerkship OBJECTIVE Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

METHOD

Child psychiatry OSCE stations were designed to evaluate clerk' skills in the identification of 4 common conditions. Child psychiatrists wrote case scenarios and checklists and supported standardized patient (SP) training for the stations. A bank of 4 child psychiatry OSCE stations is now available for use in the psychiatry OSCE. Child psychiatry faculty have been trained as examiners for ongoing administration of his OSCE.

RESULTS

This bank of child psychiatry OSCE stations has examined 402 clerks. Mean student scores for content were 68% to 86% and for process were 69% to 76%. Station reliability and examiner feedback were acceptable.

CONCLUSIONS

Child psychiatry has been successfully integrated into a psychiatry clerkship OSCE. Although the commitment in terms of monetary and faculty costs has been considerable, the accompanying educational benefits of such integration warranted this expense.