A recent University of Florida College of Medicine Jacksonville study demonstrated that in-training exams taken during residency training do predict eventual success on certifying exams, but the strongest predictor of board certification passage is USMLE Step 1 exam scores.
This is of notable interest because the USMLE Step 1 exam is taken prior to beginning residency training, explained Quimby McCaskill, M.D., M.P.H., principal investigator on this study.
“This finding most probably relates to the level of motivation medical students have to pass Step 1, in preparation for future residency placement,” said McCaskill, a UF assistant professor of pediatrics.
He hypothesizes that the same level of motivation exists when residents prepare for and become board certified.
“This offers us, as educators, a useful tool in identifying residents who might be at increased risk of not passing their boards, so that we can help guide the development of individual learning plans to maximize their likelihood of success on certifying exams,” explained McCaskill.
McCaskill will present the results from this study, which is entitled, “USMLE Step 1 Scores as a Significant Predictor of Future Board Passage in Pediatrics” at the Southern Regional Meeting on March 3-5, 2006 in Atlanta.
“As a faculty member interested in medical education, it is my hope that the results from this study will offer additional insight as to how we can further improve the training experience for all residents and ensure their professional success following graduation,” said McCaskill.