Improving Residents’ Ability to Teach Complex Skills Through the Use of Objective Structured Teaching Exercises

Introduction: Although studies have been conducted in various medical disciplines on the use of objective structured teaching exercises (OSTEs) to improve teaching skills, there are no OSTE studies specifically addressing internal medicine residents and their ability to be effective teachers, more specifically their self-perceptions of confidence and competence in teaching. This study explores the use of OSTEs as a means of deliberate practice in order to improve internal medicine resident performance in teaching complex skills. Method: Twenty-eight internal medicine residents were invited to participate in the study. The primary outcome was measured by a survey-based assessment of resident self-perceptions of confidence and competence before and after two OSTEs. Results: Residents reported a significant increase in their confidence in teaching medical students a complex oral presentation skill (SNAPPS method) after the two OSTEs. Conclusion: OSTEs can be used to boost resident confidence and competence in teaching complex oral presentation skills to medical students.