National examination for medical residency admission: academic performance in a high-stakes test and the need for continuing education

Abstract

Introduction: Performance and selection rate of non-newly graduated physicians in a medical residency admission test as an indicator for the need of continuing education.

Methods: A database comprising 153 654 physicians who took a residency admission test in the period 2014-2018 was analysed. Performance and selection rates were assessed in relation to year of graduation and performance in medical school.

Results: The whole sample scored at a mean of 62.3 (SD ±8.9; range 1.11-91.11). Examinees who took the test in their year of graduation performed better (66.10) than those who took the test after their year of graduation (61.84); p<0.001.Selection rates differed accordingly; 33.9% for newly graduated physicians compared with 24.8% in those who took the test at least 1 year after graduation; p<0.001. An association between selection test performance and medical school grades was established using Pearson's correlation: r=0.40 for newly graduated physicians and r=0.30 for non-newly graduated physicians. There were statistically significant differences in selection rates for every ranking group of grades in medical school based on the χ2 test (p<0.001). The selection rates are decreased years after graduation even for candidates with high grades in medical school.

Discussion: There is an association between performance in a medical residency admission test and academic variables of the candidates: medical school grades and time elapsed from graduation to test taking. The evidence of decrease in retention of medical knowledge since graduation highlights the pertinence of continuing education interventions.

Keywords: education and training; medical education & training.