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Scheduling surgical success: Early minimally invasive surgery rotations as a predictor of ABSITE performance
Ace St John1, Nicole H Ducich1, Stephen M Kavic2
1University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Introduction:
The American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE®) serves as a benchmark for assessing resident knowledge and comprehension in surgery training programs. While previous studies have examined factors such as USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 performance in ABSITE® preparation, the impact of rotational schedule on ABSITE® performance remains underexplored.
Methods:
We retrospectively investigated the independent influence of rotational schedule on ABSITE® performance among interns at a single academic institution over an 11 year period.
Results:
Early exposure to minimally invasive surgery rotations and specialty rotations such as surgical oncology and vascular surgery during the winter or just before ABSITE® was associated with higher ABSITE® percentiles when controlled for USMLE Step 2 performance.
Conclusion:
This study underscores the significance of rotational scheduling in optimizing ABSITE® performance and suggests potential strategies for enhancing resident preparation and success on this examination.
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