Bigach Stephen D, Johnson Daniel J, Patt Joshua C, Beal Matthew D
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, USA.
Cureus. 2021 May 13;13(5):e15008. doi: 10.7759/cureus.15008.
Background At present, orthopedic surgery applicants do not universally include Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (Step 2 CK) scores on their applications and current inclusion rates are not yet reported. As Step 1 transitions to pass/fail scoring, we suspect more applicants will include Step 2 CK scores. We sought to identify what percentage of applications currently include Step 2 CK, if applicants who include Step 2 CK (Step 1+CK) score lower on Step 1 than those not including Step 2 CK (Step 1-CK), and what correlations exist between Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores among those who include the scores on their applications. Methodology Applicants to one residency program over two application cycles (2019-2020) were analyzed. The percentage including Step 1 and Step 2 scores was recorded. Step 1 scores were compared between Step 1+CK and Step 1-CK applicants. Differences between Step 2 CK and Step 1 scores were stratified by Step 1 score. Results A total of 1,688 applicants applied to our institution from 2019 to 2020. Of those reporting United States Medical Licensing Examination scores, 1,316/1,660 (79%) reported a Step 2 CK score. Step 1-CK applicants scored higher on Step 1 (250.7 ± 10.9) versus Step 1+CK applicants (244.3 ± 13.1) (p < 0.0001). More applicants who scored lower on Step 1 improved upon their percentile rank between Step 1 and Step 2 CK than those who scored higher on Step 1 (χ = 79.1, p < 0.0001). Conclusions From 2019 to 2020, 79% of applicants included Step 2 CK. Lower Step 1 scores were more likely to include Step 2 CK and improve upon their percentile score. It is unclear how Step 1 scoring change will affect current practice.
背景 目前，骨科手术专业的申请者在其申请材料中并非普遍包含第二步临床知识考试（Step 2 CK）的成绩，且目前的纳入率尚未见报道。随着第一步考试过渡为通过/未通过计分方式，我们推测会有更多申请者纳入Step 2 CK成绩。我们试图确定当前申请材料中包含Step 2 CK成绩的申请者比例，纳入Step 2 CK成绩的申请者（Step 1+CK）在第一步考试中的得分是否低于未纳入Step 2 CK成绩的申请者（Step 1-CK），以及在申请材料中包含这两项成绩的申请者中，第一步考试成绩与Step 2 CK成绩之间存在何种相关性。
方法 对两个申请周期（2019 - 2020年）内一个住院医师培训项目的申请者进行分析。记录包含第一步和第二步考试成绩的申请者比例。比较Step 1+CK申请者与Step 1-CK申请者的第一步考试成绩。根据第一步考试成绩对Step 2 CK成绩与第一步考试成绩之间的差异进行分层。
结果 2019年至2020年共有1688名申请者申请我校。在报告美国医师执照考试成绩的申请者中，1316/1660（79%）报告了Step 2 CK成绩。Step 1-CK申请者在第一步考试中的得分（250.7±10.9）高于Step 1+CK申请者（244.3±13.1）（p<0.0001）。与第一步考试得分较高的申请者相比，第一步考试得分较低的申请者在第一步考试与Step 2 CK考试之间的百分位排名提升幅度更大（χ = 79.1，p<0.0001）。
结论 2019年至2020年，79%的申请者纳入了Step 2 CK成绩。第一步考试得分较低的申请者更有可能纳入Step 2 CK成绩并提升其百分位分数。目前尚不清楚第一步考试计分方式的改变将如何影响当前的做法。
