Correlation Between Radiology ACGME Case Logs Values and ABR Core Exam Pass Rate

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiology
• Professional Assessment

Background:

• Discrepancy exists between the American Board of Radiology (ABR) and radiology trainees regarding optimal preparation for the ABR Core Examination.
• The ABR advocates for clinical interpretation experience, while trainees and program directors often favor dedicated study time and review courses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between the number of interpreted cases during residency and success on the ABR Core Examination.
• To determine if a threshold exists beyond which clinical experience negatively impacts examination performance.

Main Methods:

• Anonymized Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case log data from a single year cohort of radiology residents was utilized.
• Case log data was matched with ABR Core Examination pass/fail results.
• A random effects logistic regression model analyzed the relationship between case volume and exam outcomes.

Main Results:

• A significant relationship was found between case log volume and Core Examination performance, modeled with linear and quadratic terms.
• Performance showed a positive correlation with case volume up to approximately 11,000 examinations.
• Beyond this inflection point, a negative correlation between case volume and performance was observed.

Conclusions:

• Active engagement in clinical radiology duties is associated with improved performance on the ABR Core Examination.
• There appears to be an optimal level of clinical experience; exceeding this may diminish educational value and negatively impact exam scores.
• Balancing clinical responsibilities with dedicated study time is crucial for successful preparation for the ABR Core Examination.