Use of standardised patients in the evaluation of a residency mood disorders curriculum: a brief report.

Background and objectives The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of resident performance on an observed structured clinical examination (OSCE) as a tool to refine a mood disorders curriculum, and to disseminate a mood disorders OSCE for use in other residency settings. Methods A depression-focused OSCE and a direct observation evaluation tool were developed and implemented. A total of 24 first-year family medicine residents (PGY1) participated in the OSCE, and their performance was used to direct changes in a mood disorders curriculum. Results Residents performed well on general interview behaviours, and 67% were able to uncover depression in a patient presenting with headaches. Less than 50% of the residents asked about suicidal ideation and recreational drug use. Curriculum was added that addressed the latter deficiencies. Conclusions Tracking of resident performance on specific behaviours during OSCE sessions can be used for curriculum evaluation purposes. The mood disorders curriculum in additional family medicine residency programmes can now be evaluated using our depression-focused OSCE and Clinical Performance Checklist.