JAOA/AACOM. Evidence-Based Redesign of the COMLEX-USA Series

Abstract

To ensure that the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA (COMLEX-USA) reflects the evolving practice of osteopathic medicine, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners has developed new content and format specifications for an enhanced, competency-based examination program to be implemented with COMLEX-USA Level 3 in 2018. This article summarizes the evidence-based design processes that served as the foundation for blueprint development and the evidence supporting its validity. An overview is provided of the blueprint's 2 dimensions: Competency Domains and Clinical Presentations. The authors focus on the evidence that supports interpretation of test scores for the primary and intended purpose of COMLEX-USA, which is osteopathic physician licensure. Important secondary uses and the educational and catalytic effect of assessments are also described. This article concludes with the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners' plans to ensure that the COMLEX-USA series remains current and meets the needs of its stakeholders-the patients who seek care from osteopathic physicians.

Moving Down the Road Less Traveled: The GROUPIE Program at Touro California

“…In reviewing similar original research articles published in 2017, there were 6 that met these criteria. 2,3,[15][16][17][18] Of these 6 articles, 2 were brief communications from Italian researchers, 15,17 1 focused on the…”

“…Examination-USA, 16 and 2 were part of the original GROUPIE articles. 2,3 Although 9 years have passed since that statement was published, the need for our COMs and the osteopathic medical profession to remain clearly distinctive still resonates and may be more relevant than ever.…”

A Concordance Study of COMLEX-USA and USMLE Scores

“…Other suggested solutions, such as abolishment of the COMLEX-USA examination series, fail to recognize the distinctiveness of the DO degree and the available evidence supporting the validity of COMLEX-USA for licensure of osteopathic physicians. 8,9 Blueprints for the examinations, although similar with respect to some biomedical science and clinical concepts covered, diverge in areas including test specifications and inclusion of osteopathic principles and practice and osteopathic manipulative treatment on the COMLEX-USA series. [10][11][12][13] Previous studies have investigated the relationship between performance on these 2 examinations but have fallen short of a dependable way to compare COMLEX-USA and USMLE scores.…”

Predicting Osteopathic Medical Student Performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Knowledge From Results of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation

“…However, both of these examinations will soon transition to pass/fail score reporting. Surveys of residency program directors in multiple specialties suggest that USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) performance will assume a more significant role in residency selection [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. Unfortunately for students and their advisors, data on the association between COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and USMLE Step 2 CK performance are sparse: the few studies that have examined this topic use data that are around 10-15 years old [7] or have included only data from a single residency program [8,10].…”