Abstract
Background: analyse the usefulness of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to evaluate the skills of medical students in paediatric basic life support (PBLS), compare both training models and evaluate measure to improve the teaching programme.
Methods: comparative, prospective, observation study with intervention in two hospitals, one undergoing a PILS course (Paediatric Immediate Life Support) and another PBLS. The study was performed over three phases. 1. PBLS OSCE in 2022 three months after the training 2. Measures to improve the training programme 3. PBLS OSCE in 2023. Overall results were analyzed and results compared between both sites and those for 2022 and 2023.
Results: a total of 210 and 182 students took part in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The overall mean score out of 100 was 77.8 and 89.5 in 2022 and 2023, respectively. P=.000. Overall cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) effectiveness was adequate in 79.4% and 84.6% of students in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The results of hospital students undergoing a PILS course were much better than those undergoing a PBLS. The results from both hospitals improved significantly in 2023.
Conclusions: The OSCE is a valid instrument to evaluate PBLS skills in medical students and to compare the different training methods and improve. Medical students who receive a PILS attain better PBLS skills than those who undergo a PBLS course.