Rahimpour Armein, Morrison Missy, Denning David A, Bown Paul, Ray Peter, Barry Rahman
General Surgery, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, USA.
Plastic Surgery, UK King's Daughters Medical Center, Ashland, USA.
Cureus. 2024 Jun 14;16(6):e62358. doi: 10.7759/cureus.62358. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Introduction The American Board of Surgery (ABS) plays a pivotal role in certifying surgeons in the United States, with the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) serving as a critical assessment tool for general surgery residents aspiring for certification. The aim of this study is to compare the performance of international medical graduates (IMGs) to their domestic counterparts and assess the impact of different medical degrees on ABSITE scores. Notably, ABSITE scores often dictate the trajectory of a surgical career, including opportunities for fellowship placements in specialized fields such as plastic surgery. Methods This study focused on general surgery residents enrolled at Marshall University from 2014 to 2022. Data encompassing ABSITE scores, TrueLearn quiz percentages, and TrueLearn mock exam results were collected for analysis. Descriptive statistics summarized sample characteristics, and linear mixed models were employed to address correlations. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) (version 9.4; SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA), with significance defined by a two-sided test with p < 0.05. Results Among the 48 participants, comprising 24 non-international medical graduates (nIMGs) and 24 IMGs, IMGs demonstrated superior performance across various metrics. They exhibited higher quiz percentages (67% vs. 61%; p = 0.0029), mock Exam 1 scores (64% vs. 58%; p = 0.0021), mock Exam 2 scores (66% vs. 58%; p = 0.0015), ABSITE scores (560 vs. 505; p = 0.010), and ABSITE percentages (74% vs. 68%; p = 0.0077) compared to nIMGs. Analysis between Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and Doctor of Medicine (MD) participants revealed no statistically significant differences in performance metrics, highlighting the comparability of these medical degrees in the context of ABSITE scores and related assessments. Discussion/conclusion This study underscores the superior performance of IMGs over nIMGs in ABSITE examinations, shedding light on the critical role of ABSITE scores in shaping surgical careers. Higher scores correlate with enhanced opportunities for coveted fellowship placements, particularly in specialized fields like plastic surgery. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for resident training and navigating the competitive landscape of surgical sub-specialization. Future research endeavors can delve deeper into the factors influencing ABSITE performance, thereby facilitating the development of targeted interventions to support residents in achieving their career aspirations.
引言 美国外科委员会（ABS）在美国外科医生认证方面发挥着关键作用，美国外科委员会住院医师培训考试（ABSITE）是有志于获得认证的普通外科住院医师的重要评估工具。本研究的目的是比较国际医学毕业生（IMG）与国内同行的表现，并评估不同医学学位对ABSITE分数的影响。值得注意的是，ABSITE分数往往决定着外科职业生涯的轨迹，包括在整形外科等专科领域获得进修机会。
方法 本研究聚焦于2014年至2022年在马歇尔大学就读的普通外科住院医师。收集了包括ABSITE分数、TrueLearn测验百分比和TrueLearn模拟考试结果的数据进行分析。描述性统计总结了样本特征，并采用线性混合模型来处理相关性。使用统计分析系统（SAS）（版本9.4；SAS Institute Inc.，美国北卡罗来纳州卡里）进行统计分析，显著性由双侧检验定义，p < 0.05。
结果 在48名参与者中，包括24名非国际医学毕业生（nIMG）和24名IMG，IMG在各项指标上表现更优。与nIMG相比，他们的测验百分比更高（67%对61%；p = 0.0029），模拟考试1分数更高（64%对58%；p = 0.0021），模拟考试2分数更高（66%对58%；p = 0.0015），ABSITE分数更高（560对505；p = 0.010），ABSITE百分比更高（74%对68%；p = 0.0077）。对骨科医学博士（DO）和医学博士（MD）参与者的分析显示，在表现指标上没有统计学上的显著差异，这突出了这些医学学位在ABSITE分数及相关评估方面的可比性。
讨论/结论 本研究强调了IMG在ABSITE考试中比nIMG表现更优，揭示了ABSITE分数在塑造外科职业生涯中的关键作用。更高的分数与获得令人垂涎的进修机会的增加相关，特别是在整形外科等专科领域。了解这些动态对于住院医师培训以及在竞争激烈的外科亚专业领域中发展至关重要。未来的研究可以更深入地探究影响ABSITE表现的因素，从而促进制定有针对性的干预措施，以支持住院医师实现其职业抱负。
