United States medical licensing examination Step 1 scores are a quantifiably better predictor of American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination success compared to Step 2 scores

Background: United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 (STEP 1) and Step 2 (STEP 2) scores are used in the selection of surgery residents. The American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) is employed to assess resident knowledge. We sought to determine whether both STEP 1 and/or STEP 2 were predictive of ABSITE performance. Methods: We performed a 10-year retrospective analysis of all PGY levels comparing STEP 1 and 2 scores with raw ABSITE scores and percentile rank. Additionally, we analyzed STEP 1 and 2 scores for the likelihood of scoring above the 20th percentile on the ABSITE. Results: When STEP 1 and STEP 2 scores were evaluated separately, both were independent predictors of ABSITE performance. However, when STEP 1 and STEP 2 scores were evaluated together, only STEP 1 scores were predictive of ABSITE performance. Finally, only STEP 1 scores were predictive of scoring above the 20th percentile. Conclusion: STEP 1 scores are a better predictor of ABSITE performance than STEP 2.

Automated summary

This study found that United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 (STEP 1) scores are a better predictor of surgery residents' knowledge and performance than Step 2 (STEP 2) scores.