COMPARISON OF VIVA VOCE EXAMINATIONS CONDUCTED IN COMMUNITY MEDICINE IN TWO FORMATS
Pradnya Jadhav* and Sundaram Kartikeyan
ABSTRACT
This comparative descriptive study was conducted on 62 seventh semester MBBS students (30 females: 48.38% and 32 males: 51.62%) to compare the viva voce examinations conducted in two formats. To preclude inter-examiner variability, the same set of teachers conducted the viva voce examinations in both formats. For the structured format, a blueprint grid containing all the topics in Community Medicine was prepared and each student was asked to answer 5 questions from the “must know”, 3 questions from “nice to know” and 2 questions from the “desirable to know” aspects of the syllabus. The mean scores were significantly higher in the structured format for all students (Z=3.675; p=0.0002), female students (Z=2.731; p=0.0063) and male students (Z=2.329; p=0.0198). The gender differences in scores were not statistically significant. Objective structured viva voce examination is resource-intensive and prior preparation would be required to assemble standard questions, reorient examiners, develop a scoring system and determine the optimum duration of viva voce examination, which will utilize time and efforts of enthusiastic teachers. The structured format will increase the confidence of the students in the evaluation system, help trim down bias and subjectivity, ensure uniform evaluation and assess higher domains of learning and communication.
Keywords: Comparison, Examination, Format, Objective structured viva voce.
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