[The objective structured clinical examination in dentistry: strengths and weaknesses].

The aim of the study was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) in dentistry by analyzing OSCE materials for dentistry students of 4th and 6th years, OSCE results for three academic years, students and examiners questionnaire results. Data were evaluated using methods of the classical test theory (α Cronbach, discrimination index and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results of the OSCE-4 and OSCE-6 showed the reliability, validity and effectiveness of the exam format. The high reliability of the exam were confirmed by Cronbach, which was 0.75 (2016), 0.79 (2017), and 0.669 (2018) in the OSCE-4 and 0.78 (2016), 0.819 (2017) and 0.745 (2018) in the OSCE-6; and the standard deviation of mean score (SD) in OSCE-4 equals 7.05 SEm% (2016), SD=5.61 SEm% (2017), and 3.95 SEm% (2018); OSCE-6 equals 8.08 SEm% (2016), SD=6.60 SEm% (2017), and SD=4.38 SEm% (2018), indicating the minimum variability. The correlation coefficients with the final score of the OSCE-4 were 0.68 (2016), 0.48 (2017) and 0.35 (2018); the same for the OSCE-6 were 0.48 (2016), 0.57 (2017), and 0.45 (2018). Thus, the identification of strengths and weaknesses of the OSCE allowed the corrections in the educational program for dentistry schools focusing on the outcome's achievements.