Summary of - Perception of Students towards Structured Oral Examination (SOE) in comparison with Conventional Oral Examination (COE) in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Background:

Oral examinations are integral to both formative and summative assessments in medical education. The traditional COE, however, faces criticism for being subjective, potentially inconsistent due to examiners' varying attitudes, and sometimes influenced by non-academic factors. To address these concerns, SOE has been suggested as a more reliable and valid alternative, though it is more resource-intensive and less commonly implemented on a large scale.

Objective:

The primary objective of the study was to compare the perceptions of medical students regarding the effectiveness and fairness of SOE versus COE in the context of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology.

Methodology:

The study was conducted at a medical college in South India with 60 second-year MBBS students who were purposively sampled based on their academic performance. These students underwent both COE and SOE, with the SOE being conducted a week after the COE. Their perceptions were collected through a specially designed 14-statement Likert Scale questionnaire, covering various aspects of the examination process. The data was analyzed using SPSS software, with statistical significance determined through Chi-square tests.

Key Findings:

Time Allocation: A significant majority (96.7%) of students found that the time allotted during the SOE was uniform and adequate, compared to only 30% in COE. This indicates a higher level of perceived fairness in time management during SOE.

Question Consistency: All students (100%) agreed that in SOE, questions were asked from a pre-approved list, ensuring consistency, while only 13.3% felt the same about COE. This highlights the perceived objectivity of SOE.

Difficulty Level: While 45% of students felt that the difficulty of questions varied between examiners in SOE, this was a significant improvement over COE, where 86.7% noted such variability.

Syllabus Coverage: The SOE was perceived to cover a broader range of syllabus topics, with 91.7% agreement, compared to 53.3% in COE. This suggests that students found SOE to be more comprehensive.

Stress Levels: SOE was reported to be less stressful, with 73.3% of students agreeing that it was a comfortable process, compared to 53.3% for COE.

Organizational Structure: A vast majority (93.3%) agreed that SOE was a well-organized method, versus only 23.3% for COE, indicating a clear preference for the structure and format of SOE.

Conclusion:

The study concludes that SOE is perceived by students as a more effective and fairer tool for oral examinations in medical education compared to COE. It was particularly praised for its uniform time allocation, consistency in questioning, broader syllabus coverage, and better organization, which collectively contributed to a less stressful and more reliable assessment experience. The findings support the adoption of SOE for both formative and potentially summative assessments in medical education, provided adequate planning and resources are available.

Key words: Oral examinations; formative; summative assessments; Structured Oral Examination; Conventional Oral Examination

Publication Date

2022

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