OSCEs in Japanese postgraduate clinical training Hiroshima experience 2000—2009

Background: Hiroshima University Hospital used the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) as a formative and summative assessment tool to evaluate trainees’ competence. Aim: To reflect on Hiroshima University Hospital experience of OSCEs in postgraduate training in terms of OSCE structure and trainees’ perception of the OSCE they attended. Methods: A total 27 OSCEs implemented in Hiroshima University Hospital from 2000 to 2009 were examined. The OSCE in postgraduate training, Hiroshima University Hospital, was influenced by many factors from organisational and pedagogical perspectives, and changed to meet social and curriculum needs. At each OSCE, all examinees were required to answer an anonymous questionnaire, which consisted of ten checklists, just after their experience of OSCE. Results: Five hundred and forty trainees who attended each OSCE were required to answer a questionnaire and 510 were returned (94.4%). In the comparison between formative and summative OSCEs, the number of trainees who answered “the OSCE is meaningful” in formative OSCE was significantly higher than that in summative OSCE (P < 0.001). In the comparison between before and after the 2006/2007 academic year, trainees who indicated that OSCEs were meaningful increased after 2006/2007 (P < 0.05), and trainees who felt they were evaluated appropriately by these OSCEs increased after 2006/2007 (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Trainees viewed OSCEs positively and appreciated their effectiveness from a pedagogical perspective, and OSCE positively affected the trainees’ approach to learning. A ten‐year process of OSCE change has helped with educational reforms because of its adaptability. Flexible attitudes to change are necessary for stakeholders to achieve the desired reforms.     

Clinical crown height (length) – a review of published measurements

BACKGROUND, AIMS: Clinical crown height is an objective measure of the position of the gingival margin which could be used in determining the 'normal' position of the gingival margin. The aim of this study was to do a systematic review of published clinical crown heights in the human permanent dentition to compare the measurements and to see if a clear trend with age exists. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An on-line literature search was done using the key words clinical crown height (or) clinical crown length. From January 1975 to August 2000, 11 published papers have listed measurements; three of these report on all tooth types, the remainder on anterior teeth. RESULTS: All studies used the same measuring technique but age group reporting differed as did the tooth types measured. Measurements from the 10 acceptable studies of the clinical crown height of the same teeth are comparable at similar ages, so published values are reasonable estimates of 'normality' for diagnosis. There is a statistically significant increase in clinical crown height of central and lateral incisors with age that slows as age increases.