Structured oral examination ("guided questions") as amethod for objectifying the ENT specialist examination in Germany

Abstract

On behalf of the federal Ministries of Health, the various German medical associations organize and conduct the board certification examinations for becoming an ENT specialist at the end of residency. The oral examination comprises a collegial discussion that should last at least 30min and which rarely exceeds 45 to 60min in practice. The current article describes the quality criteria upon which examinations in general should be based, and lists the most common mistakes during conduction of oral examinations. Using "oral guided questions" (OGQ or GQ) can guarantee ahigh degree of standardization, objectivity, transparency, and justiciability. The principles of a GQ-guided examination are described and specified by atypical example. Experiences with this form of examination from the federal states of Brandenburg and Thuringia are presented.