Correlation between USMLE Step scores, personal attributes and RITE exam performance among neurology residents at an academic center.
Haifa Al Issa1, Disha Kohli2, Chirantan Banerjee2
1College of Health Professions, 2Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina
Objective:
We aimed to investigate the correlation between USMLE scores and personal attributes with Residency in-training exam (RITE) performance among residents at our academic neurology residency training program.
Background:
Studies assessing medical and surgical residents’ performance during training and its relation to USMLE Step scores have found differing correlations among different medical specialties. This correlation has never been studied among neurology residents.
Design/Methods:
Data on 51 neurology residents at Medical University of South Carolina between 2005 and 2020 was analyzed. Resident personal attributes included were gender, age at residency enrollment, medical school location, awards/honor degrees during medical school, presence of advanced degree/completion of another residency program, number of peer reviewed publications, and years from medical school graduation. Correlation analysis was conducted between Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores with RITE Exam scores, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to examine differences in mean RITE scores of residents with/without above personal attributes.
Results:
Mean age at residency enrollment was 30.92 years(25 – 48). 68.6% residents were males and 50.9% were IMGs.
Statistically significant strong positive correlations were found between Step 1 and RITE scores (PGY-2 r = 0.6, PGY-4 r = 0.69, p<0.01). Weaker but statistically significant positive correlations were found between Step 2 CK and RITE scores (PGY-2 r= 0.56, PGY-4 r = 0.52, p<0.01).
Mean PGY-2 RITE score for IMGs was higher than US graduates (p<0.05). Residents with ≥6 publications, and those with honors/award during medical school had higher RITE scores compared to those without. There was no significant difference in RITE scores of males and females, those with and without advanced degrees and those with and without gap years between medical school and residency.
Conclusions:
USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK scores, medical school location, awards/honor degrees during medical school, and ≥6 publications correlate with higher RITE scores among neurology residents.