Comparing the Perceptions of Reciprocal- and Near-Peer Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) in Medical Students.

introductionThe Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is utilized by medical schools to assess students' competency in clinical skills. Literature has shown that first-year students who were tutored by fourth-year students (MS4s; near-peer) in practice OSCEs reported self-perceived improvement in OSCE skills. There is a lack of research regarding the effectiveness of first-year (MS1) pairs for reciprocal-peer practice OSCEs. This study aims to assess if virtual reciprocal-peer OSCEs provide comparable learning opportunities to virtual near-peer OSCEs.

methodsMS1 students were assigned to work with a near-peer or a reciprocal-peer for one week, and then switched protocols the second week. One student in each reciprocal-peer pair was assigned to act as a standardized patient (SP). Their partner took a history, interpreted physical exam findings, prepared a note, and gave an oral presentation. The pair then switched roles using a second case. The near-peer group followed the same procedure, without the reversal of roles.

resultsA total of 135 MS1s participated in the first week and 129 in the second week. Students agreed that working with a near-peer was more valuable than a reciprocal-peer in the following parameters: peer feedback (N=113, 89%), history-taking skills (N=101, 80%), physical exam skills (N=102, 81%), and note-writing skills (N=109, 89%). Pairwise comparison utilizing Wilcoxon signed-rank test indicated participants preferred the choice of a fourth-year student partner over an MS1 partner (Z=1.436, p<0.001).

conclusionParticipants found working with a near-peer increased confidence in their clinical skills and near-peer feedback was more valuable. Although MS1s found that watching and evaluating their peers in a reciprocal-peer exercise was beneficial, students overwhelmingly preferred working with MS4s due to more valuable feedback.