Abstract
Background Scores from the NBME Subject Examination in Surgery (Surgery Shelf) positively correlate with United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 (Step 1). Based on this relationship, the authors evaluated the predictive value of Step 1 on the Surgery Shelf. Methods Surgery Shelf standard scores were substituted for Step 1 standard scores for 395 students in 2012–2014 at one medical school. Linear regression was used to determine how well Step 1 scores predicted Surgery Shelf scores. Percent match between original (with Shelf) and modified (with Step 1) clerkship grades were computed. Results Step 1 scores significantly predicted Surgery Shelf scores, R2 = 0.42, P < 0.001. For every point increase in Step 1, a Surgery Shelf score increased by 0.30 points. Seventy-seven percent of original grades matched the modified grades. Conclusion Replacing Surgery Shelf scores with Step 1 scores did not have an effect on the majority of final clerkship grades. This observation raises concern over use of Surgery Shelf scores as a measure of knowledge obtained during the Surgery clerkship.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 325-329 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | American Journal of Surgery |
Volume | 213 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Feb 1 2017 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Surgery clerkship
- Surgery Shelf exam
- USMLE Step 1 exam
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery