A validity study of the national UK colposcopy objective structured clinical examination: is it a test fit for purpose?

This study examines the validity and reliability of the British Society for Colposcopy and Cytopathology (BSCCP) objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). The BSCCP OSCE results obtained over eight OSCE circuits were analysed using SPSS 15. Face validity and content validity were established from expert opinion and blueprinting. Statistically significant difference was not shown in construct validity through level of experience (P=0.867, P=0.822, P=0.59, P=0.74, P=0.12, P=0.01; these are the P values for each of the patient interaction stations) however, concurrent validity was established against the gynaecology mini-CEX (sensitivity=1, specificity=0.8, positive predictive value=0.947, negative predictive value=1). The reliability of the OSCE's range from Cronbach's alpha of 0.617 to 0.775. The OSCE has face, content and concurrent validity.