The in-training examination in obstetrics and gynecology: an attempt to establish a remediation indicator.

Abstract

With the use of a university- and community hospital-based faculty, we attempted to determine at what performance level remediation would be recommended. The Committee on In-Training Examinations for Residents in Obstetrics and Gynecology Task Force on Standard-Based Scoring sent the 1991 examination to 16 university- and 12 community hospital-based faculty members. Given a standardized definition of a "borderline third-year resident," each faculty scored each item on the examination on whether that hypothetic resident would or would not correctly answer the item. The mean expectation of correct responses on the 397-item test was 236 (59%). This was identical to the score obtained if 2 SDs were subtracted from the actual mean for all third-year residents taking the examination. University- and community hospital-based faculty members had generally similar expectations of this defined resident. Although poor examination results should not be recommended as the sole determinant for promotion, it appears that 2 SDs below the mean may be an appropriate score below which remediation could be recommended.