Performance on the Plastic Surgery In-Service Examination Can Predict Success on the American Board of Plastic...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training Assessment

Background:

• The Plastic Surgery In-Service Examination has been used for over 45 years for resident self-assessment.
• Accreditation requires 70% of graduates to pass the American Board of Plastic Surgery Written Examination initially.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the predictive role of In-Service Examination scores for success on the American Board of Plastic Surgery Written Examination.

Main Methods:

• Collected In-Service Exam scores (2009-2015) and Written Exam data from 1364 residents.
• Utilized multivariate analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves to determine optimal score cut-points.

Main Results:

• Residents failing the Written Exam had significantly lower In-Service Exam scores (p < 0.001).
• Independent residents were 7.0 times more likely to fail than integrated/combined residents (p < 0.001).
• Optimal cut-points identified: 36th percentile for independent and 22nd percentile for integrated/combined residents.

Conclusions:

• Plastic Surgery In-Service Exam scores effectively predict Written Exam success.
• Scores below identified cut-points signal increased risk of failure, aiding early intervention strategies for at-risk residents.