Construct Validity and Generalizability of Simulation-Based Objective Structured Clinical Examination Scenarios

Abstract Background It is not known if construct-related validity (progression of scores with different levels of training) and generalizability of Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) scenarios previously used with non-US graduating anesthesiology residents translate to a US training program. Objective We assessed for progression of scores with training for a validated high-stakes simulation-based anesthesiology examination. Methods Fifty US anesthesiology residents in postgraduate years (PGYs) 2 to 4 were evaluated in operating room, trauma, and resuscitation scenarios developed for and used in a high-stakes Israeli Anesthesiology Board examination, requiring a score of 70% on the checklist for passing (including all critical items). Results The OSCE error rate was lower for PGY-4 than PGY-2 residents in each field, and for most scenarios within each field. The critical item error rate was significantly lower for PGY-4 than PGY-3 residents in operating room scenarios, and for PGY-4 than PGY-...