Understanding the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) Through the Lens of Medical College Interns: A Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP)-Based Study in a Private Medical College in Central India

Introduction: The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a widely accepted method for assessing clinical competence in medical education. The OSCE is a standardized, objective method to evaluate the clinical skills of medical students, encompassing history-taking, examination skills, and communication. As medical education shifts towards competency-based curricula, understanding student perspectives on OSCE becomes vital. Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) surveys provide valuable insight into how students perceive and prepare for this form of assessment. This study aimed to assess the KAP of interns regarding OSCE. A structured KAP questionnaire was administered to 150 interns from a tertiary medical college. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that while the majority of students had adequate knowledge and a positive attitude toward OSCE, practice preparedness varied. The findings highlight the need for enhanced orientation and training to improve practical readiness for OSCE. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 interns at Mahaveer Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Bhopal, India. Responses were scored and analysed using SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0 (Released 2017; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the survey data. Results: Out of 150 students, 138 completed the questionnaire (response rate: 92%). For knowledge, 78% demonstrated good knowledge of the OSCE components and structure. For attitude, 85% expressed a positive attitude, believing the OSCE to be a fair and useful assessment method. For practice, only 60% reported engaging in regular practice or mock OSCEs. Common barriers included limited access to practice materials and time constraints. Conclusion: Interns possess good knowledge and a positive attitude towards OSCE but require more opportunities for hands-on practice. Medical colleges should focus on structured OSCE training programs to improve students' clinical competency and assessment readiness.