Abstract
This study sought to determine the academic and professional outcomes of medical school graduates who failed the United States Licensing Examination Step 1 on the first attempt. This retrospective cohort study was based on pooled data from 2,003 graduates of six Midwestern medical schools in the classes of 1997-2002. Demographic, academic, and career characteristics of graduates who failed Step 1 on the first attempt were compared to graduates who initially passed. Fifty medical school graduates (2. 5 %) initially failed Step 1. Compared to graduates who initially passed Step 1, a higher proportion of graduates who initially failed Step 1 became primary care physicians (26/49 [53 %] vs. 766/1,870 [40. 9 %]), were more likely at graduation to report intent to practice in underserved areas (28/50 [56 %] vs. 419/1,939 [ 21. 6 %]), and more likely to take 5 or more years to graduate (11/50 [22. 0 %] vs. 79/1,953 [4. 0 %]). The relative risk of first attempt Step 1 failure for medical school graduates was 13. 4 for African Americans, 7. 4 for Latinos, 3. 6 for matriculants >22 years of age, 3. 2 for women, and 2. 3 for first generation college graduates. The relative risk of not being specialty board certified for those graduates who initially failed Step 1 was 2. 2. Our observations regarding characteristics of graduates in our study cohort who initially failed Step 1 can inform efforts by medical schools to identify and assist students who are at particular risk of failing Step 1.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 279-289 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Advances in Health Sciences Education |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2013 |
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Keywords
- Health professional career outcomes
- Relative risk
- Underrepresented in medicine
- Underserved areas
- United States Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 failure
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- Education
Cite this
Academic and professional career outcomes of medical school graduates who failed USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt. / McDougle, Leon; Mavis, Brian E.; Jeffe, Donna B.; Roberts, Nicole K.; Ephgrave, Kimberly; Hageman, Heather L.; Lypson, Monica L.; Thomas, Lauree; Andriole, Dorothy A.
In: Advances in Health Sciences Education, Vol. 18, No. 2, 2013, p. 279-289.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Academic and professional career outcomes of medical school graduates who failed USMLE Step 1 on the first attempt
AU - McDougle, Leon
AU - Mavis, Brian E.
AU - Jeffe, Donna B.
AU - Roberts, Nicole K.
AU - Ephgrave, Kimberly
AU - Hageman, Heather L.
AU - Lypson, Monica L.
AU - Thomas, Lauree
AU - Andriole, Dorothy A.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - This study sought to determine the academic and professional outcomes of medical school graduates who failed the United States Licensing Examination Step 1 on the first attempt. This retrospective cohort study was based on pooled data from 2,003 graduates of six Midwestern medical schools in the classes of 1997-2002. Demographic, academic, and career characteristics of graduates who failed Step 1 on the first attempt were compared to graduates who initially passed. Fifty medical school graduates (2. 5 %) initially failed Step 1. Compared to graduates who initially passed Step 1, a higher proportion of graduates who initially failed Step 1 became primary care physicians (26/49 [53 %] vs. 766/1,870 [40. 9 %]), were more likely at graduation to report intent to practice in underserved areas (28/50 [56 %] vs. 419/1,939 [ 21. 6 %]), and more likely to take 5 or more years to graduate (11/50 [22. 0 %] vs. 79/1,953 [4. 0 %]). The relative risk of first attempt Step 1 failure for medical school graduates was 13. 4 for African Americans, 7. 4 for Latinos, 3. 6 for matriculants >22 years of age, 3. 2 for women, and 2. 3 for first generation college graduates. The relative risk of not being specialty board certified for those graduates who initially failed Step 1 was 2. 2. Our observations regarding characteristics of graduates in our study cohort who initially failed Step 1 can inform efforts by medical schools to identify and assist students who are at particular risk of failing Step 1.
AB - This study sought to determine the academic and professional outcomes of medical school graduates who failed the United States Licensing Examination Step 1 on the first attempt. This retrospective cohort study was based on pooled data from 2,003 graduates of six Midwestern medical schools in the classes of 1997-2002. Demographic, academic, and career characteristics of graduates who failed Step 1 on the first attempt were compared to graduates who initially passed. Fifty medical school graduates (2. 5 %) initially failed Step 1. Compared to graduates who initially passed Step 1, a higher proportion of graduates who initially failed Step 1 became primary care physicians (26/49 [53 %] vs. 766/1,870 [40. 9 %]), were more likely at graduation to report intent to practice in underserved areas (28/50 [56 %] vs. 419/1,939 [ 21. 6 %]), and more likely to take 5 or more years to graduate (11/50 [22. 0 %] vs. 79/1,953 [4. 0 %]). The relative risk of first attempt Step 1 failure for medical school graduates was 13. 4 for African Americans, 7. 4 for Latinos, 3. 6 for matriculants >22 years of age, 3. 2 for women, and 2. 3 for first generation college graduates. The relative risk of not being specialty board certified for those graduates who initially failed Step 1 was 2. 2. Our observations regarding characteristics of graduates in our study cohort who initially failed Step 1 can inform efforts by medical schools to identify and assist students who are at particular risk of failing Step 1.
KW - Health professional career outcomes
KW - Relative risk
KW - Underrepresented in medicine
KW - Underserved areas
KW - United States Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 failure
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84876090628&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84876090628&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10459-012-9371-2
DO - 10.1007/s10459-012-9371-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 22484965
AN - SCOPUS:84876090628
VL - 18
SP - 279
EP - 289
JO - Advances in Health Sciences Education
JF - Advances in Health Sciences Education
SN - 1382-4996
IS - 2
ER -