An Interprofessional Objective Structured Clinical Exam (iOSCE) for Health Literacy

Faculty/Staff Leader Summary

Effective communication with patients and between members of the health care team are important strategies to enhance health care outcomes. Learners will be practicing in a complex healthcare system that requires working collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team-based environment. However, health professionals are under-trained in health literacy communication techniques, and students have limited opportunities to engage in interprofessional collaborative practice. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) allows students of different professions to demonstrate team care with a Standardized Patient (SP).

We developed a novel interprofessional OSCE (iOSCE) and piloted it with three professions: medical, dental hygiene and occupational therapy. This innovative, team-based iOSCE focuses on skill development of the top three health literacy practices (teachback, avoiding use of medical jargon and using a patient-centered approach for questions). Students participated virtually in a pre-OSCE session to review health literacy and TeamSTEPPS concepts and engage in team-building with their assigned interprofessional team. The iOSCE took place in person after the team had a pre-huddle. A virtual debrief took place after all teams had finished.  The Health Literacy iOSCE demonstrates that a mix of types and levels of health professional learners can gain confidence in their health literacy skills and improve beliefs and confidence with interprofessional teamwork.

IPEC Competency Domain(s)
Communication
Teams & Teamwork

IPEC Sub-Competencies Targeted
TT2: Appreciate team members’ diverse experiences, expertise, cultures, positions, power, and roles towards improving team function.
TT4: Use shared leadership practices to support team effectiveness.
TT8: Facilitate team coordination to achieve safe, effective care and health outcomes.
C1: Communicate one’s roles and responsibilities clearly.
C2: Use communication tools, techniques, and technologies to enhance team function, well-being, and health outcomes.
C4: Promote common understanding of shared goals.