Analysis of the Pathology Section of the OITE Will Aid in Trainee Preparation

Abstract

We analyzed the tumor-related questions on the Orthopaedic In-Training Examinations (OITE) over a 5-year period (2002-2006). Each year approximately 27 of the 275 examination questions (10%) are tumor-related. Malignant conditions are tested more than benign ones (1.2:1). Approximately nine questions per year are immediate recall of specific entities, while eight questions tested the examinees' ability to establish a diagnosis from imaging studies with or without biopsy material. Participants were required to establish a diagnosis from imaging studies and/or biopsy material and then choose treatment an average of seven times per examination. The examinees' abilities in evaluation and decision making of patients was only tested an average of twice during each examination. Analysis of the content and type of question on the OITE might enable trainees to prepare more systematically. We determined the content, classified the questions, and quantified the interpretive material.

Relationship Among United States Medical Licensing Step I, Orthopedic In-Training, Subjective Clinical Performance Evaluations, and American Board of Orthopedic Surgery Examination Scores: A 12-Year Review of an Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program

“…This plan focuses on content areas in which the resident is having difficulty with specific study expectations and guidelines. 23 Additional OITE content domain analysis (pediatric orthopedics; medically related issues; musculoskeletal trauma; rehabilitation; hand, hip, and knee reconstruction; spine, foot, and ankle; sports medicine; shoulder and elbow; orthopedic science; or orthopedic diseases) 24,25 also is performed to better delineate specific educational deficiencies. In addition to serving as a foundation to implement early remediation, information gained from the OITE and subjective clinical performance evaluation rating analysis also may help identify orthopedic surgery residency program deficiencies such as clinical rotations that are not adequately addressing educational program goals.…”

Analysis of the Orthopedic In-Training Examination (OITE) Musculoskeletal Trauma Questions

“…[1][2][3][4] OITE examination results may be one factor used to direct educational activity for residents and training programs, or to help assess a practicing orthopedic surgeons' orthopedic knowledge. Recently, authors have published analyses of OITE hand, 5 pathology, 6 foot and ankle, 7 and sports medicine 8 questions, noting the common topics tested, imaging modalities, question taxonomy, and the journals most frequently referenced. These publications enable examinees to organize their studying in a more systematic manner.…”

Educational Resources for the Orthopedic In-Training Examination

“…To facilitate the development of OITE preparatory resources by residency directors, several recent studies have begun to characterize the information tested as well as to assess the potential usefulness of recent literature by correlating the tested content to that of publications in various orthopedic journals. [1][2][3][4] In addition, the results of a recent single-center study suggest that the use of some orthopedic publications may be correlated with higher scoring on the examination. 5 The purpose of the present study was to evaluate further educational tools used by residents for the OITE by conducting a multicenter study that assessed the following: (1) what educational resources do residents consider to be most useful?…”

“…5 The purpose of the present study was to evaluate further educational tools used by residents for the OITE by conducting a multicenter study that assessed the following: (1) what educational resources do residents consider to be most useful? (2) how are residents who score in the top 20% preparing for the examination? and (3) how do the resources identified in the first 2 questions compare with the most commonly cited recommended references for the examination?…”