Three Adult Acute Abdominal Pain Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Cases for Medical Student Assessment in the Surgery Clerkship

Abstract

Abstract The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS) Examination consists of patient encounters where students have 15 minutes to evaluate a patient and 10 minutes to write a note. Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) have proven to be a reliable and valid modality to assess the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, and professionalism. This resource contains three OSCE cases for use in the evaluation of medical students during the surgical clerkship. A trio of adult patient cases of acute abdominal pain are presented: right upper quadrant pain, left lower quadrant pain, and epigastric pain. Case-specific elements of the history and physical examination are provided for use by standardized patients. Performance checklists for medical student behaviors in the history, physical examination, and patient-doctor relationship are also included. This three-station acute abdominal pain OSCE is used for formative purposes in the Surgery and Perioperative Care Clerkship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. It serves as a tool to evaluate goals and objectives of the clerkship. Moreover, it parallels the USMLE Step 2 CS Examination, with similar length of the patient encounter, the differential diagnosis list, and the initial patient workup, while directly assessing multiple ACGME competencies.

Keywords

• OSCE
• Abdomen
• Surgical Clerkship