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Resources That Improve Medical Board Licensing Examination Performance
Frank Jackson1, Ethan Duane2, Robert Harmon3
1Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, USA.
Cureus
|December 3, 2019
Summary
Preparing for the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 may improve performance on the Comprehensive Osteopathic Licensing Examination-USA (COMLEX-USA) Level 1. USMLE-specific resources and practice exams positively correlate with both licensing exam scores.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Licensing Examinations
- Graduate Medical Training
Background:
- Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) programs highly value United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and Comprehensive Osteopathic Licensing Examination-USA (COMLEX-USA) Level 1 scores for candidate selection.
- Understanding factors that enhance performance on these high-stakes medical licensing board examinations is crucial for student success and program evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific study resources and practice examinations that improve performance on the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX-USA Level 1.
- To investigate the correlation between performance on the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX-USA Level 1.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 102 medical students assessing their preparation strategies and performance on both the COMLEX-USA Level 1 and USMLE Step 1.
- Statistical analysis was used to determine correlations between resource utilization, practice exam performance, and final examination scores.
Main Results:
- USMLE-specific question banks demonstrated a positive correlation with performance on both USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX-USA Level 1.
- Practice examinations, including the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Comprehensive Basic Science Self Assessment (CBSSA) and National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Self-Assessment Examination (COMSAE), were positively correlated with scores on both licensing exams.
- Scores on the USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX-USA Level 1 were highly correlated, with students who took the USMLE Step 1 performing better on the COMLEX-USA Level 1.
Conclusions:
- COMLEX-USA Level 1 performance may not be optimally enhanced by COMLEX-specific resources alone.
- Medical students preparing for the COMLEX-USA Level 1 may benefit from incorporating USMLE Step 1 preparation materials and strategies into their study plans.
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