A comparison of orthopaedic surgery and internal medicine perceptions of USMLE Step 1 pass/fail scoring

• DOI: 10.1186/s12909-021-02699-4
• Publication Date: 2021-05-03T11:03:03Z
• Authors: Frederick Mun; Alyssa R. Scott; David Cui; Erik B. Lehman; Seongho Jeong; Alia Chisty; Paul J. Juliano; William L. Hennrikus; Eileen F. Hennrikus
• Keywords: LC8-6691; Research; 4. Education; Orthopaedic surgery; R; Internship and Residency; Pass/fail scoring; 02 engineering and technology; Licensure, Medical; Step 1; Special aspects of education; United States; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Orthopedics; 0302 clinical medicine; Internal Medicine; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; Medicine; Humans; Orthopedic Procedures; Perception; USMLE; Internal medicine

United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 will transition from numeric grading to pass/fail, sometime after January 2022. The aim of this study was compare how program directors in orthopaedics and internal medicine perceive a pass/fail impact the residency application process.A 27-item survey distributed through REDCap 161 U.S. orthopaedic 548 directors. Program director emails were obtained American Association's Fellowship Residency Electronic Interactive Database.We received 58 (36.0%) 125 (22.8%) responses. majority both groups disagree with change felt that decision not transparent. Both believe 2 Clinical Knowledge exam clerkship grades take on more importance. Compared PDs, PDs significantly likely emphasize research, letters recommendation known faculty, Alpha Omega membership, leadership/extracurricular activities, audition elective rotations, personal knowledge applicant. allopathic students less prestigious medical schools, osteopathic students, international graduates be disadvantaged. Orthopaedic agree schools should adopt graded pre-clinical curriculum, there cap number applications student can submit.Orthopaedic pass/fail. They also make match process difficult, disadvantage highly-regarded schools. rely heavily clinical score, but place importance recommendation, applicant, electives.