In July 1989 the American Board of Emergency Medicine conducted a field test of the oral recertification examination process. Sixteen examiners and 25 examinees participated in the field test. The examination included 3 chart-stimulated recall and 3 simulated-patient encounter cases. (MLW)

Results of two certification examinations were analyzed for the cohorts of physicians who had taken in-training examinations as first, second, and third year residents. Multiple regression analysis showed that the composite score and all but one part-score were independently predictive of performance on the certification examination. (Author/MLW)

The Clinical Skills Assessment Examination was constructed to test the clinical skills of foreign medical graduates. A pilot test of 635 foreign graduates, including 35 United States citizens, and 123 graduates of U.S. medical schools found 28 percent of foreign graduates deficient in clinical skills, consistent with previous research. (MSE)

This study analyzed examination results from eight residency programs for a five-year period, 1983-87. Areas of educational strength and weakness were identified by levels of training for each program. The analyses have been used to change curriculum content, modify lectures for residents, and provide structured review for residents. (Author/MLW)

A study of the use of the Medical Education Evaluation Program, established by Ohio to evaluate clinical competencies of medical graduates of non-accredited schools, found the test to meet psychometric standards of certifying and licensing examinations. Potential problems with the test are discussed. (MSE)

A system of medical classification based on the dimensions of body system, etiology, and stage of disease was evaluated by classifying the content of one specialty board's examinations. This classification system may allow a board to define the content of its examinations, monitor requirements for certification, and communicate its standards.…

This study retrospectively applies aggregate scoring to the cardiology questions from a recertifying examination in general internal medicine. Three groups of experts were identified among the examinees and the remainder of the examinees were the participants (N=1887) of the study. Generalizability theory is applied to these data. (MLW)

A study designed to establish criteria for requiring continuing medical education (CME) for family physicians by analyzing 14 structured oral interviews (SOIs) with physicians. The SOI consists of 40 cases, focuses on 10 aspects of physician competence required to face critical practice issues. Judges determined from the interviews a number of…

To investigate the validity of anesthesiologist certification, 146 anesthesiology program directors were asked whether they would permit each of their graduating residents to complete 3 increasingly complex anesthetic regimens to the directors themselves and rate residents on specific skills. Director responses generally correspond to…

Data on 180 pediatrics and 302 internal medicine residency training programs concerning vacation, leave of absence, extension of training because of absence, and related policy suggest wide variation depending on postgraduate year of training, discipline, program size, and program type. Implications for accreditation, testing, and certification…

A study investigated whether internal medicine training program directors found feedback on their students' test performance helpful in understanding where their residents ranked nationally. Results suggest that directors have learned to rank their own candidates against a common standard but may have lowered the standards they used. (MSE)

Application of a knowledge-based standard in evaluating a written certification examination developed by the American Board of Anesthesiology established a standard of 57 percent correct over two years' examinations. This process is recommended for developing mastery-based (rather than normative-based) success criteria for evaluation of medical…

Data are presented on 9,491 graduates of foreign medical schools applying for certification through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) in 1988, including the proportions certified, entering accredited residency programs, participating in physician exchanges, as well as their visa status. Details and requirements of…

A survey of 1,139 Virginia family practitioners and internal medicine specialists investigated interest in pursuing geriatric education, including such factors as preferred form of education, preferred topics, intent to take the geriatric medicine qualifying examination, geriatric care provided, home visits, prior participation in geriatrics…

A study compared the performance of six cohorts of family physicians (711 practice-qualified physicians certified in 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1,233 residency-trained physicians certified in 1977, 1978, 1979) recertified in 1977-1991. Results indicate declines in performance on each recertification examination and better performance by…