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Comparative assessment of students'

performance and perceptions on
objective structured practical
models in undergraduate pathology
teaching.

Abstract
Assessment is an important factor that drives student learning,
as students tend to mainly focus on the material to be assessed.
The current practice in teaching pathology extensively applies
objective-structured practical examination for the assessment of
students. As students will have to deal with real patients during
clinical years, it is preferred that students learn and practise via
potted specimens and slides instead of picture plates. This study
aimed to assess the preferred assesment method of pathology
practical exercises.

This was a cross-sectional survey carried out in two consecutive

batches of Phase 2 medical students. Student competency was
assessed using both the traditional (TD) (i.e. use of potted
specimens and slides) and picture plate (PP) methods. To
compare the two assessment methods, we compared the mean
scores obtained by the students and examined student
perception of the two methods.

The mean scores obtained via the PP method were significantly

higher than those obtained via the TD method for almost all the
components tested.

We found that students performed significantly better (p < 0.05)

when assessed using the PP method instead of the TD method.
PP preparations might provide better visuals, thus aiding
understanding, than the TD method. The findings of this study
are valuable in identifying and improving our current teaching
and assessment methods of medical students, in line with
advancements in information technology.
Citation
Citation
Comparative assessment of students' performance and
perceptions on objective structured practical models in
undergraduate pathology teaching.
Htwe TT, Ismail SB, Low GK - Singapore Med J - September 1,
2014; 55 (9); 502-5
MEDLINE is the source for the citation and abstract for this
record

Full Source Title

Singapore medical journal

NLM Citation ID
25273936 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25273936.1)
(PubMed ID)

Language
eng

Author Affiliation

Authors
Htwe TT, Ismail SB, Low GK

MeSH Terms (8)

Cross-Sectional Studies

Education, Medical, Undergraduate /methods * /standards *

Humans

Pathology /education * /standards *

Perception

Reproducibility of Results

Students

Surveys and Questionnaires

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