Work

5. Predicting Academic Performance During Plastic Surgery Residency: Can Step 2 Scores Reliably Replace Step 1?

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: PURPOSE: Step 1 will transition to a pass/fail system in 2022. This study aimed to characterize the effects of this change on plastic surgery program directors’ selection criteria and assess whether Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) can replace Step 1 as an application selection metric. METHODS: An online survey was administered to a collaborative group of ten plastic surgery program directors. USMLE Step 1, Step 2 CK, In-Service, and written board scores for three years of graduated integrated residents were collected. Relative correlation of Step 1 and Step 2 CK with In-Service scores was compared. RESULTS: Across 80 included integrated residents, mean (SD) Step 1 score was 247 (13), Step 2 CK was 249 (13), In-Service percentiles varied from 45 to 53 percentile, and written board pass rate was 98.3%. Both Step 1 and Step 2 CK correlated highly with In-Service percentiles (both p<0.001), with Step 2 CK scores correlating similarly with In-Service performance compared to Step 1 (rho 0.359 vs. 0.355, respectively). Across applicant characteristics, program directors reported the highest relative increase in Step 2 CK importance after Step 1 transitions to pass/fail. CONCLUSION: Step 2 CK correlates similarly with In-Service performance compared to Step 1. For programs seeking objective metrics to differentiate applicants, Step 2 CK may also be used to predict test performance during residency.

Source: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open

DOI: 10.1097/01.gox.0000828008.87250.b6