Novel use of a sequential standardized oral board exam to assess PGY1 resident progression

Purpose A standardized oral board exam was created to longitudinally assess postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residents in key domains. Summary We provide a descriptive review of a novel oral board exam administered quarterly to our PGY1 pharmacy residents. Preceptors from our core rotations (internal medicine/infectious diseases, adult critical care, oncology, pediatrics, and administration/health policy and outcomes) developed questions based on situations commonly encountered by PGY1 residents to assess residents’ communication; the content of their response, assessment, and plan; and coachability. Over the 4-year history of this assessment, scoring has matured to consider whether a resident has or has not met or has exceeded expectations for a PGY1 resident at a given stage in their training. Our comprehensive feedback and action planning approach included residents’ self-assessment, feedback from the exam committee, development and implementation of a customized training plan for execution, and dissemination to our preceptors. Systematically assessing our PGY1 residents with this innovative method provided a process for tracking their performance and served as a baseline for those who completed additional training at our institution. Conclusion A standardized quarterly oral board exam was developed to identify residents’ strengths and areas for improvement at established periods during the PGY1 residency training program. This standardized assessment, paired with individualized action plans and open communication with key stakeholders, stimulated development in residents’ performance, communication, and interpersonal skills. We aim to expand this system’s application to identify predictors of success for candidates we interview for our postgraduate training programs.

Being a young radiation oncologist in Poland: results of a multi-institutional survey

In 2018, Polish Society of Radiation Oncology formed a young section (yPTRO), dedicated to radiation oncologists under the age of 40. To evaluate their current situation, an anonymous, nationwide, online survey was carried out. Thirty-two-item-based questionnaire investigated young radiation oncologists’ perception of employment, workload, education, malpractice lawsuits, scientific research, and board exam. A total of 44 physicians responded to the questionnaire, yielding a response rate of 25%. Results of the survey identified the main problematic areas. In general, young radiation oncologists in Poland are overloaded with bureaucracy. They complain on spending too much time at work and lack work-life balance. The risk of being sued for medical error is threatening two-thirds of responders in everyday work. Compensation is not satisfying for nearly half of the survey participants. Nearly all young radiation oncologists continue education and participate in national and international educational events. Forty-eight percent of responders do scientific research alongside clinical work. However, the perception of young radiation oncologists on the board exam is alarming and requires further discussion. Fifty-five percent of the survey participants think that current form of the exam is not appropriate. Hopefully, 75% of physicians feel fairly evaluated. The presented report is the first of its kind in Poland. Issues mentioned in our questionnaire will help newly formed yPTRO to develop strategic priorities for the upcoming years.

Anxiety and Occupational Anxiety Level of Final Year Medical Students Who Attend a Course for Medical Board Exam

Objective: Our study aimed to evaluate anxiety and occupational anxiety level in final-year medical students attending a medical board exam course. Methods: This study was conducted between February and May 2020 in a medical board exam course center in Istanbul within the necessary permissions. The study was completed with 210 final year medical students who responded appropriately to the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Occupational Anxiety Questionnaire (MKA) form, and a questionnaire which is consisted of sociodemographic data prepared by us and statistical analyzes were performed. Results: The mean age of participants was 23.60±1.36 years, with 53.3% (n=112) identified as male and 46.7% (n=98) identified as female. The mean score of BAI was 14.15±11.01, and according to the level of BAI, 81 (38.6%) of participants had minimal, 43 (20.5%) had mild, 48 (22.9%) had moderate, and 38 (18.1%) had severe anxiety. The mean score of OCQ was 55.92±12.81, and 136 (64.8%) participants had a moderate level of OCQ. There was a positive correlation between BAI and OCQ mean score (r=0.228, p=0.01). Conclusion: The study results revealed that most final-year medical students had minimal anxiety levels and moderate occupational anxiety levels.

Comparison of emergency medical residency pre-board and board exams among universities of medical sciences in Iran

Background : Designing and conducting residency exams have been the province of type I universities since 2005, based on the plans of the Medical Education Council. This study compared emergency medical residency pre-board and board exam results among the universities of medical sciences in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study consisted of 600 questions from residency preboard exams and 150 questions from board exams in 2013-2014, as well as 600 questions from residency promotion exams and 150 questions from the board exam in 2013-2014 and 2014- 2015 at the Tabriz, Shahid Beheshti, Mashhad, and Tehran Universities of Medical Sciences. All questions were at the level I through III by Bloom’s taxonomy. Structural principles were evaluated using Millman’s checklist. All data were analyzed using SPSS 18 with chi-square tests. Results: The mean percent of more contextualized questions of the questions at Bloom’s taxonomy levels II and III in residency pre-board exam questions was 76.6% in 2013-2014 and 86.6% in 2014-2015 among the four universities. In terms of structural principles, the percentage of board exam questions that aligned with Millman’s structural principles was 100.0% and 99.3% in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, respectively. For the residency pre-board exam in 2014- 2015, the mean discrimination index was 0.14 (low), and the mean of the difficulty factor was 0.64 (appropriate). Conclusion: Questions at Bloom’s taxonomy levels II and III were higher in 2014-2015 in comparison to those in 2013-2014, and the percentage of the correctly-structured questions was high and did not significantly change from 2013-2014 in comparison to that of 2014-2015.

Goodman's Neurosurgery Oral Board Review

This book will educate and prepare neurosurgery candidates who are preparing for the Neurosurgery Oral Board exam. The book begins by initially describing the format of the new oral board exam in the United States. It will then examine some of the concepts and techniques in the question–answer process that forms the major premise of the oral board exam. The book chapters to follow are then divided into the neurosurgery subspecialty areas including spine, peripheral nerve, brain tumors, cerebral vascular and endovascular, functional/pain, pediatrics, etc. Each chapter contains 3 to 7 case presentations. The cases will be organized in a similar way that oral board questions are presented. The author of each chapter will describe their ideal answer and provide detailed analysis of the case. This offering will have a specific focus for the oral board exam and will also have key references. Contributors are long-standing dedicated members to the course and have taught the course for the last 15 years. All contributors have extensive experience in teaching for the boards and will bring an unrivaled skill set to the book.