The utility of a formative one-station objective structured clinical examination for Substance use disorders in a dental curriculum

Substance use disorders (SUD) are chronic relapsing medical conditions characterised by compulsive substance seeking and use. They constitute a substantial disease burden globally. Labelling of persons with SUD has created barriers to treatment but there are effective management strategies. The dental profession has embraced reforms designed to address the SUD epidemic by promoting continuing education for practitioners and initiating curriculum changes in dental schools. Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based model for managing patients with SUD. The use of a formative 1-station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for learning and assessment in SBIRT, operationalised with the MD3 rating scale is presented in this study. In 3 years of implementation, the SBIRT OSCE successfully integrated into the curriculum of the College of Dental Medicine, Columbia University. Mean score of total adherent behaviours was 11.80 (SD =4.23) (range: 2 – 24) and Cronbach's coefficient alpha for across-items reliability in adherent behaviours was 0.66. Adherent behaviours correlated with the global ratings (r = 0.66). Mean of global rating scores were 2.90 (SD =1.01) for collaboration and 2.97 (SD =1.00) for empathy and the global rating scores correlated with each other (r = 0.85). Histograms of global rating scores resembled normal distribution. The 1-station OSCE is a good model for learning about SBIRT. Psychometric analysis was useful in understanding the underlying construct of the MD3 rating scale and supported its reliability, validity and utility in dental education.