Development and Validation of the Osce Perception Questionnaire (Oscepq) for Nursing Students in Iran

Summary: Can nursing students rate practical exams reliably? A study of 220 students validated a 19-item, two-factor OSCE perception questionnaire. #NursingEducation #Assessment

Aghabarary M ; Norouzinia R ; Khedmatizare M ; Rahmatpour P
Source: Journal of Medical Education Development Published:2026

Abstract

Background & Objective: The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a multidimensional and valid method for assessing the clinical competence of health sciences students, including nursing students. Given the need for a valid, reliable, and trustworthy instrument to evaluate nursing students’ perceptions and experiences of the OSCE, this study was conducted to develop and psychometrically evaluate the OSCE Perception Questionnaire (OSCEPQ). Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional methodological study was conducted among eighth-semester nursing students from the School of Nursing at Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. All eligible eighth-semester nursing students (n = 220) who undertook the OSCE during six consecutive academic semesters (July 2022–January 2025) were included in the study. Data were collected using the researcher-developed OSCEPQ and a demographic questionnaire. The sample was randomly split into two independent subsamples for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA; n = 120) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA; n = 100). Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega, and construct validity, including convergent and discriminant validity, was assessed. Results: EFA extracted two factors comprising 19 items, accounting for 60.4% of the total variance. CFA showed an acceptable model fit (CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.08). The scale showed strong internal consistency (> 0.90). Evidence also supported its convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusion: The OSCEPQ showed satisfactory psychometric properties, including construct validity and reliability. It can be considered a valid and reliable instrument for assessing nursing students’ perceptions of the OSCE. Its application may support improvements in nursing education and evaluation practices. © 2026 Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. Published by Zanjan University of Medical Sciences.