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OBJECTIVE: To design a clinical examination of high content validity suitable for use as a formative assessment tool with pre-registration house officers (PRHO'S) towards the end of their first house officer post. DESIGN: A multicentre collaboration between four UK medical schools who offer undergraduate curricula which are problem-based, systems-based, patient-orientated, student-centred, jargon-laden and utterly staff-bewildering. MAIN OUTCOME: An objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) which is suitable for use with graduates of UK medical schools. It assesses the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for future careers in a hierarchical system where protecting the senior staff from all forms of irritation is paramount. RESULTS: PRHO'S who excel in this examination get better references. CONCLUSION: The OSCE format can be used to provide 'real-life' scenarios appropriate to the season.
Wood et al. (Wed,) studied this question.