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Objective Test Scores Throughout Orthopedic Surgery Residency Suggest Disparities in Training Experience.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Foster, N; Price, M; Bettger, JP; Goodwin, CR; Erickson, M
Published in: J Surg Educ
2021

Diversifying clinical residencies, particularly in fields that are historically dominated by majority male (M/M) cohorts, is critical to improve both the training experiences of residents and the overall physician workforce. Orthopedic surgery in particular has low numbers of females and under-represented minorities (F/URM) at all levels of training and practice. Despite efforts to increase its diversity, this field has become more homogeneous in recent years. To highlight potential barriers and disparate training environments that may contribute to this dynamic, we present 25 years' worth of institutional data on standardized exam performance throughout residency. We report that despite starting residency with standardized exam scores that were comparable to their M/M peers, F/URM orthopedic surgery residents performed progressively worse on Orthopaedic In-service Training Exams throughout residency and had lower first pass rates on the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery Part 1. Given these findings, we propose that disparate performance on standardized test scores throughout residency could identify trainees that may have different experiences that negatively impact their exam performance. Shedding light on these underlying disparities provides opportunities to find meaningful and sustained ways to develop a culture of diversity and inclusion. It may also allow for other programs to identify similar patterns within their training programs. Overall, we propose monitoring test performance on standardized exams throughout orthopedic surgery residency to identify potential disparities in training experience; further, we acknowledge that interventions to mitigate these disparities require a broad, systems wide approach and a firm institutional commitment to reducing bias and working toward sustainable change.

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Published In

J Surg Educ

DOI

EISSN

1878-7452

Publication Date

2021

Volume

78

Issue

5

Start / End Page

1400 / 1405

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics
  • Orthopedic Procedures
  • Male
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Education, Medical, Graduate
  • Clinical Competence
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Foster, N., Price, M., Bettger, J. P., Goodwin, C. R., & Erickson, M. (2021). Objective Test Scores Throughout Orthopedic Surgery Residency Suggest Disparities in Training Experience. J Surg Educ, 78(5), 1400–1405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2021.01.003
Foster, Norah, Meghan Price, Janet Prvu Bettger, C Rory Goodwin, and Melissa Erickson. “Objective Test Scores Throughout Orthopedic Surgery Residency Suggest Disparities in Training Experience.J Surg Educ 78, no. 5 (2021): 1400–1405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2021.01.003.
Foster N, Price M, Bettger JP, Goodwin CR, Erickson M. Objective Test Scores Throughout Orthopedic Surgery Residency Suggest Disparities in Training Experience. J Surg Educ. 2021;78(5):1400–5.
Foster, Norah, et al. “Objective Test Scores Throughout Orthopedic Surgery Residency Suggest Disparities in Training Experience.J Surg Educ, vol. 78, no. 5, 2021, pp. 1400–05. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.jsurg.2021.01.003.
Foster N, Price M, Bettger JP, Goodwin CR, Erickson M. Objective Test Scores Throughout Orthopedic Surgery Residency Suggest Disparities in Training Experience. J Surg Educ. 2021;78(5):1400–1405.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Surg Educ

DOI

EISSN

1878-7452

Publication Date

2021

Volume

78

Issue

5

Start / End Page

1400 / 1405

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics
  • Orthopedic Procedures
  • Male
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Education, Medical, Graduate
  • Clinical Competence