Safety in numbers 5 : evaluation of computer-based authentic assessment and high fidelity simulated OSCE environments as a framework for articulating a point of registration medication dosage calculation benchmark

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Sabin, M. and Weeks, K. and Rowe, David and Hutton, M. and Coben, D. and Hall, C. and Woolley, Norman (2013) Safety in numbers 5 : evaluation of computer-based authentic assessment and high fidelity simulated OSCE environments as a framework for articulating a point of registration medication dosage calculation benchmark. Nurse Education in Practice, 13 (2). e55-e65. ISSN 1471-5953 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2012.10.009)

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Abstract

This paper reports a key educational initiative undertaken by NHS Education for Scotland (NES), based upon recommendations from a ‘Numeracy in Healthcare’ consultation. We report here the design of a web-based technical measurement authentic assessment environment evolved from the safeMedicate suite of programs that provided a model for an environment within which a medication dosage calculation problem-solving (MDC-PS) benchmark could be articulated. A sample of 63 third-year pre-registration nursing students was recruited from four participating universities in the UK. A counterbalanced design was employed where the virtual authentic assessment environment was evaluated for internal consistency reliability and criterion-related validity against an objective structured clinical assessment (OSCE) undertaken in high-fidelity simulated clinical environments. Outcome measures indicated an extremely high internal consistency of the web-based environment. It was concluded that the combination of a web-based authentic assessment environment and further assessment of safe technical measurement interpretation and dexterity in a practice/practice simulation setting, populated with a benchmark and a criterion referenced rubric validated by the profession, is an innovative, viable, valid and reliable assessment method for the safe administration of medicines. As a result, the rubric for assessment of the appropriate range of calculation type and complexity informed the NMC’s revised Essential Skills Clusters for Medicines Management (NMC, 2010a; NMC, 2010b). This inclusion provides a particularly strong example of both research directly influencing policy and of evidence-based regulation.

ORCID iDs

Sabin, M., Weeks, K., Rowe, David ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5249-9008, Hutton, M., Coben, D., Hall, C. and Woolley, Norman;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)