Scrimgeour D S G, Cleland J, Lee A J, Griffiths G, McKinley A J, Marx C, Brennan P A
Centre For Healthcare Education Research and Innovation University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK.
Department of Colorectal Surgery Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Aberdeen UK.
BJS Open. 2017 Aug 29;1(3):67-74. doi: 10.1002/bjs5.7. eCollection 2017 Jun.
The Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) examination is undertaken by large numbers of trainees in the UK and internationally as a mandatory step within surgical training. Unlike some high-stakes medical examinations, the MRCS is yet to be validated. A quantitative study was undertaken to assess its predictive validity by investigating the relationship between MRCS (Parts A and B) and national selection interview scores for general and vascular surgery in the UK.
Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the linear relationship between each assessment, and linear regression analyses were employed to identify potential independent predictors of the national selection score. All UK medical graduates who attempted the interview in 2011-2015 were included.
Some 84·4 per cent of the candidates (1231 of 1458) were matched with MRCS data. There was a significant positive correlation between the first attempt score at Part B of the MRCS examination and the national selection score (r = 0·38, P < 0·001). In multivariable analysis, 17 per cent of variance in the national selection first attempt score was explained by the Part B MRCS score and number of attempts (change in R value of 0·10 and 0·07 respectively; P < 0·001). Candidates who required more than two attempts at Part B were predicted to score 8·1 per cent less than equally matched candidates who passed at their first attempt.
This study supports validity of the MRCS examination, and indicates its predictive value regarding entry into specialist training.
英国皇家外科学院联合会员资格考试（MRCS）由英国及国际上大量的实习医生参加，是外科培训中的一个必经步骤。与一些高风险的医学考试不同，MRCS尚未经过验证。本研究进行了一项定量研究，通过调查MRCS（A部分和B部分）与英国普通外科和血管外科全国选拔面试分数之间的关系，来评估其预测效度。
采用Pearson相关系数来检验各项评估之间的线性关系，并运用线性回归分析来确定全国选拔分数的潜在独立预测因素。纳入了所有在2011 - 2015年参加面试的英国医学毕业生。
约84.4%的考生（1458人中的1231人）与MRCS数据匹配。MRCS考试B部分的首次考试成绩与全国选拔分数之间存在显著正相关（r = 0.38，P < 0.001）。在多变量分析中，全国选拔首次考试分数中17%的方差可由MRCS B部分分数和考试次数解释（R值变化分别为0.10和0.07；P < 0.001）。预计在B部分需要两次以上考试的考生比首次通过的同等条件考生得分低8.1%。
本研究支持MRCS考试的效度，并表明其对进入专科培训的预测价值。
