Identifying Students at Risk of Failing the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Skills Examination.

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: New standards announced in 2017 could increase the failure rate for Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS). The purpose of this study was to identify student performance metrics associated with risk of failing.

METHODS: Data for 1,041 graduates of one medical school from 2014 through 2017 were analyzed, including 30 (2.9%) failures. Metrics included Medical College Admission Test, United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1, and clerkship National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Subject Examination scores; faculty ratings in six clerkships; and scores on an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE). Bivariate statistics and regression were used to estimate risk of failing.

RESULTS: Those failing had lower Step 1 scores, NBME scores, faculty ratings, and OSCE scores (P< .02). Students with four or more low ratings were more likely to fail compared to those with fewer low ratings (relative risk [RR], 12.76, P< .0001). Logistic regression revealed other risks: low surgery NBME scores (RR 3.75, P=.02), low pediatrics NBME scores (RR 3.67, P=.02), low ratings in internal medicine (RR 3.42, P=.004), and low OSCE Communication/Interpersonal Skills (RR 2.55, P=.02).

CONCLUSIONS: Certain medical student performance metrics are associated with risk of failing Step 2 CS. It is important to clarify these and advise students accordingly.

Volume

51

Issue

6

First Page

483

Last Page

499

ISSN

1938-3800

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

31184761

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS