TY - JOUR
T1 - Cardiothoracic surgery mock oral examinations
T2 - A single institution's 5-year experience
AU - Corsini, Erin M.
AU - Mitchell, Kyle G.
AU - Nguyen, Tom C.
AU - Vaporciyan, Ara A.
AU - Antonoff, Mara B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery
PY - 2020/4
Y1 - 2020/4
N2 - Objectives: Although in-training examinations provide surrogate data on qualifying exam readiness, use of mock oral examinations (MOEs) in cardiothoracic surgery training before the American Board of Thoracic Surgery certifying oral exam is not uniform. Although MOEs are prioritized by some institutions, development and execution of these labor-intensive, time-consuming exams may be a barrier to others. Therefore, we aimed to develop an MOE program and to assess its educational value. Methods: We developed an institutional MOE program that mimicked the certification examination and was serially administered to 10 cardiothoracic surgery trainees from 2014 to 2018. Biannual MOE scores were reviewed, along with certifying examination pass rates. MOE data were available for curriculum development and trainee performance evaluations. Results: MOEs were conducted twice each academic year, with 4 exams administered during each individual's training. MOE program development required significant up-front time commitment, and thereafter each MOE required approximately 24 total faculty hours and 4 administrator hours. The pass rates for sequential MOEs demonstrated gradual improvement, and the corresponding certifying exam pass rate was 100% for these same individuals. MOE data were routinely used for curriculum refinement, as well as individual trainee feedback. Conclusions: Standardized MOEs are useful educational adjuncts to assess trainees' knowledge and readiness for certification exams, but require significant coordination and time to develop an accurate, rigorous simulation mechanism. Although we recognize that improvement in serial MOEs is likely related to exposure as well as expanding funds of knowledge, we believe these results justify use of this assessment tool in training.
AB - Objectives: Although in-training examinations provide surrogate data on qualifying exam readiness, use of mock oral examinations (MOEs) in cardiothoracic surgery training before the American Board of Thoracic Surgery certifying oral exam is not uniform. Although MOEs are prioritized by some institutions, development and execution of these labor-intensive, time-consuming exams may be a barrier to others. Therefore, we aimed to develop an MOE program and to assess its educational value. Methods: We developed an institutional MOE program that mimicked the certification examination and was serially administered to 10 cardiothoracic surgery trainees from 2014 to 2018. Biannual MOE scores were reviewed, along with certifying examination pass rates. MOE data were available for curriculum development and trainee performance evaluations. Results: MOEs were conducted twice each academic year, with 4 exams administered during each individual's training. MOE program development required significant up-front time commitment, and thereafter each MOE required approximately 24 total faculty hours and 4 administrator hours. The pass rates for sequential MOEs demonstrated gradual improvement, and the corresponding certifying exam pass rate was 100% for these same individuals. MOE data were routinely used for curriculum refinement, as well as individual trainee feedback. Conclusions: Standardized MOEs are useful educational adjuncts to assess trainees' knowledge and readiness for certification exams, but require significant coordination and time to develop an accurate, rigorous simulation mechanism. Although we recognize that improvement in serial MOEs is likely related to exposure as well as expanding funds of knowledge, we believe these results justify use of this assessment tool in training.
KW - cardiothoracic surgery training curriculum
KW - mock oral examination
KW - oral board examination
KW - surgical education
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85068375142&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85068375142&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.05.019
DO - 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.05.019
M3 - Article
C2 - 31256970
AN - SCOPUS:85068375142
SN - 0022-5223
VL - 159
SP - 1439
EP - 1444
JO - Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
JF - Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
IS - 4
ER -