Nursing Students’ Performance and Feedback on Two Clinical Evaluation Methods in Operating Room: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Appropriate clinical evaluation methods correct educational errors, improve clinical training, and better judge students’ skills. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of using objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and mini-clinical evaluation exercise (Mini-CEX) on operating room students’ performance and satisfaction. Methods: One group was evaluated by the Mini-CEX method and the other by the OSCE method after random allocation. Feedback was subsequently collected, and data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: No significant difference was observed between the 2 groups regarding main demographic variables. The percentage of satisfaction with the evaluation method was higher in the Mini-CEX group, but this difference was insignificant (P > 0.05). The highest satisfaction was obtained for “fairness” in the OSCE group and “skill promotion” in the Mini-CEX group. The least satisfaction in both groups was related to “stressfulness.” The mean of final performance scores was significantly higher in the Mini-CEX group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Although both the OSCE and Mini-CEX evaluation methods achieved acceptable satisfaction, the Mini-CEX evaluation method improved the operating room students’ performance in the clinical field. Therefore, this evaluation method is suggested to enhance the operating room students’ clinical skills.