Support PEBC victims and their families

Reasons PEBC should make the number of trials for the pharmacy OSCE Exam unlimited:

To the PEBC: For the below mentioned reasons, we require that the OSCE exam’s number of trials to be unlimited:

1- Un-Standardization of the cases:
The first demonstration example on the PEBC website about the cancer patient had its outcomes listed as a plain counseling. However, it is obvious that the patient was dispensed 100 pills of the MS contin two months ago (which will be enough for 50 days only). It looks like the patient is not taking this medication as directed and a candidate may consider discussing the compliance issue with the patient. This compliance issue was not even mentioned as an outcome in the example.
2- Un-standardization of the S.P.
As any human being, many of the standardized patients lose focus after some time and some may mention some inaccurate information.
3- Un-standardization of the assessor:
For one assessor, a candidate’s communication might be acceptable (perhaps because of background or culture) and for the other it may be unacceptable. Ex: losing eye contact may be acceptable for an assessor from a middle-eastern background but not for another from a different background.
Also, as any human being, after some time assessors may get tired and lose focus.
4-Unavailability of a reference :
Unlike the MCQ exam where there is a reference answer sheet, no one can ensure the revision of his OSCE exam because of lack of reference (i.e. there is no video taping for the cases)
5- The Validity of the unlimited trials for other healthcare professionals:
As healthcare professionals, we require same chances as physicians with no limit for the OSCE exam trials.
6- Limiting the number of trials increases the stress in an already stressful exam:
The OSCE exam setting is inherently stressful. A candidate is required to gather information, check reference and provide information for the standardized patient, all in 7 minutes. But what puts more stress on candidates is that they know that they have limited chances to take the exam and that one word may affect the future of their entire family. Many times, this overwhelming stress affects their performance negatively.

7- Although intended to simulate the regular practice, OSCE exam for pharmacists fails to fulfil this objective:
References supplied in the stations are hard copies. However, according to the vast majority of registered pharmacists, they are using internet resources to respond to a drug related inquiry. It is obvious that searching for a specific word or information using internet is much more convenient in regular practice.
8- Humanitarian reasons:
There is a lot to be said about how devastated families could be and how lives could be ruined because of losing hope. Many have spent tens of thousands of their hard-earned savings and have spent years studying to get the chance to be pharmacists. Many have passed the Evaluating exam, Qualifying 1 (mcq) exam, IELTS, CPS course provided by the U of T faculty of pharmacy and some even did their studentship and internship . Now they are just cast on the street with no hope.

Please consider all these reasons to make the number of trials for OSCE exam unlimited.