Student academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and competitive specialties
Abstract Background Although specific specialties and residency programs have investigated student performance factors affecting matching, there is a paucity of information from medical schools. Furthermore, factors contributing to matching into first-choice residency have not been examined. This st...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-019-1669-9 |
| _version_ | 1818257874705448960 |
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| author | Katherine Mitsouras Fanglong Dong Marian N. Safaoui Scott C. Helf |
| author_facet | Katherine Mitsouras Fanglong Dong Marian N. Safaoui Scott C. Helf |
| author_sort | Katherine Mitsouras |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although specific specialties and residency programs have investigated student performance factors affecting matching, there is a paucity of information from medical schools. Furthermore, factors contributing to matching into first-choice residency have not been examined. This study aimed to identify academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and highly competitive specialties. Methods The authors conducted a study of 1726 graduates from their institution from 2010 to 2017 and assessed pre−/post-admission academic variables associated with matching into first choice and highly competitive specialties. Results 53.9% of graduates matched into their first choice. This was associated with passing COMLEX Level 2 CE (p = 0.01), PE (p = 0.02) on first attempt, and higher COMLEX Level 2 CE and USMLE 2 CK scores (p < 0.001 and 0.002; 14.1 and 3.9-point difference in mean scores respectively). Pre-clinical GPA (p = 0.002) and highest MCAT score (p = 0.02) were associated, however differences in means were < 1 point for both. Factors associated with matching into first choice included: MCAT (OR 0.95, 95% CI = (0.92, 0.98)), Level 2 CE score (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = (1.01, 1.02)) and passing Level 2 PE (OR = 3.68, 95% CI = (1.2, 11.28)). 12% of graduates matched into high- and 63% into low-competitiveness specialties. Matching into highly competitive specialties was associated with passing COMLEX Level 1 (p < 0.001), Level 2 CE (p < 0.001), USMLE Step 1 (p < 0.001) and Step 2 CK (p = 0.03) on first attempt. Mean scores of students matching into high- versus low-competitiveness specialties differed as follows: COMLEX Level 1 62.7 points, Level 2 CE 50.5 points, USMLE Step 1 13.6 points, Step 2 CK 7 points (all p < 0.001), as did pre-clinical GPA (2.4 points, p < 0.001). Level 1 score was the strongest predictor for matching into highly competitive specialties (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = (1.02, 1.05)). Conclusions Licensing exam performance is important for matching into first-choice residency and into highly competitive specialties. Differences in exam scores were more pronounced for matching into highly competitive specialties than into first choice, with a larger difference in mean scores between students matching into specialties of high versus low competitiveness, than between students matching into their first- versus non first-choice residency. These results may help faculty prepare students and inform curriculum design to improve matching. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:50:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0ce5be357d14c3fa8f46aba1200ff8a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T17:50:35Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0ce5be357d14c3fa8f46aba1200ff8a2022-12-22T00:16:49ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202019-07-0119111310.1186/s12909-019-1669-9Student academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and competitive specialtiesKatherine Mitsouras0Fanglong Dong1Marian N. Safaoui2Scott C. Helf3Department of Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health SciencesGraduate College of Biomedical Sciences, Western University of Health SciencesDepartment of Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health SciencesAcademic Informatics, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health SciencesAbstract Background Although specific specialties and residency programs have investigated student performance factors affecting matching, there is a paucity of information from medical schools. Furthermore, factors contributing to matching into first-choice residency have not been examined. This study aimed to identify academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and highly competitive specialties. Methods The authors conducted a study of 1726 graduates from their institution from 2010 to 2017 and assessed pre−/post-admission academic variables associated with matching into first choice and highly competitive specialties. Results 53.9% of graduates matched into their first choice. This was associated with passing COMLEX Level 2 CE (p = 0.01), PE (p = 0.02) on first attempt, and higher COMLEX Level 2 CE and USMLE 2 CK scores (p < 0.001 and 0.002; 14.1 and 3.9-point difference in mean scores respectively). Pre-clinical GPA (p = 0.002) and highest MCAT score (p = 0.02) were associated, however differences in means were < 1 point for both. Factors associated with matching into first choice included: MCAT (OR 0.95, 95% CI = (0.92, 0.98)), Level 2 CE score (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = (1.01, 1.02)) and passing Level 2 PE (OR = 3.68, 95% CI = (1.2, 11.28)). 12% of graduates matched into high- and 63% into low-competitiveness specialties. Matching into highly competitive specialties was associated with passing COMLEX Level 1 (p < 0.001), Level 2 CE (p < 0.001), USMLE Step 1 (p < 0.001) and Step 2 CK (p = 0.03) on first attempt. Mean scores of students matching into high- versus low-competitiveness specialties differed as follows: COMLEX Level 1 62.7 points, Level 2 CE 50.5 points, USMLE Step 1 13.6 points, Step 2 CK 7 points (all p < 0.001), as did pre-clinical GPA (2.4 points, p < 0.001). Level 1 score was the strongest predictor for matching into highly competitive specialties (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = (1.02, 1.05)). Conclusions Licensing exam performance is important for matching into first-choice residency and into highly competitive specialties. Differences in exam scores were more pronounced for matching into highly competitive specialties than into first choice, with a larger difference in mean scores between students matching into specialties of high versus low competitiveness, than between students matching into their first- versus non first-choice residency. These results may help faculty prepare students and inform curriculum design to improve matching.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-019-1669-9Licensing examsFirst-choice residencySpecialtyMatching |
| spellingShingle | Katherine Mitsouras Fanglong Dong Marian N. Safaoui Scott C. Helf Student academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and competitive specialties BMC Medical Education Licensing exams First-choice residency Specialty Matching |
| title | Student academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and competitive specialties |
| title_full | Student academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and competitive specialties |
| title_fullStr | Student academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and competitive specialties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Student academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and competitive specialties |
| title_short | Student academic performance factors affecting matching into first-choice residency and competitive specialties |
| title_sort | student academic performance factors affecting matching into first choice residency and competitive specialties |
| topic | Licensing exams First-choice residency Specialty Matching |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12909-019-1669-9 |
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