Related Experiment Videos
MRCS Performance by OMFS trainees: an update and call to action
Ricky Ellis1, Kaveh Shakib2, Peter A Brennan3
1Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations Research Fellow, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, United Kingdom.
The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
|March 21, 2022
Summary
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) trainees show differential attainment in the MRCS Part A exam compared to other surgical specialties. Further investigation is needed to understand these performance differences in UK surgical training.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Education
- Medical Training Assessment
Background:
- The Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) examination is essential for UK specialty surgical training.
- Understanding performance variations across different surgical disciplines is crucial for equitable training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the MRCS examination performance of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) trainees against trainees from other surgical specialities.
- To identify any differential attainment (DA) in MRCS Part A and Part B pass rates over a 13-year period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of MRCS examination (Part A and Part B) pass rates.
- Comparison of OMFS trainees' performance with trainees from other surgical specialities in the UK.
- Statistical analysis of pass rates over the past 13 years.
Main Results:
- Differential attainment (DA) was observed in the MRCS Part A (MCQ) examination pass rates between OMFS trainees and other specialities.
- No statistically significant difference was found in MRCS Part B pass rates between the compared groups.
Conclusions:
- OMFS trainees exhibit a specific pattern of differential attainment in the MRCS Part A examination.
- The underlying reasons for this DA remain unknown and warrant further investigation.
- Potential contributing factors may include competing time, family, and financial obligations during training.