Correlation of Mock Board Examination Scores During Anatomic Pathology Residency Training with Performance on the Certifying Examination

Residency program factors affecting ACVS board examination pass rates from 2017 to 2021: A survey of ACVS small animal surgery residency programs

OBJECTIVE

To identify small animal surgery (SAS) residency program factors associated with board examination pass rates for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) board certification examinations.

STUDY DESIGN

Online survey.

SAMPLE POPULATION

Program directors of ACVS-registered SAS residency programs.

METHODS

An online survey was distributed to eligible 2021 ACVS SAS residency program directors. Respondents provided program information and Phase I and Phase II board examination pass rate data from 2017 to 2021. Programs were grouped based on overall combined board examination pass rates as "excellent" (≥90%) versus "adequate" (<90%). Data were analyzed using recursive partitioning.

RESULTS

Responses from 36 ACVS SAS residency programs (18 private practice [PP], 18 academic programs [AP]) were included. Pass rates were considered "excellent" for 17/36 programs (11/17 AP, 6/17 PP). The strongest indicator of "excellent" programs was most mentors participating in rounds >75% of the time. Of those, the second indicator of "excellent" programs was a soft tissue caseload of <7 surgeries/resident/week. If the soft tissue caseload was >7 surgeries/resident/week, a high orthopedic caseload (>9 surgeries/resident/week) was indicative of "excellent" programs. If most mentors were not participating in rounds >75% of the time, APs were more likely to be "excellent."

CONCLUSION

SAS APs may have higher ACVS board examination pass rates. Mentor involvement, caseload, and residency practice type may influence board examination pass rates.

CLINICAL IMPACT

ACVS SAS residency programs' board examination pass rates may improve by optimizing mentor involvement and caseload regardless of practice type.

Factors associated with successful passage of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine general examination

Background

Board certification relies on passing the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) general examination. Pass rates might depend on properties of residency training programs (RTP).

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that <4 weeks of dedicated study time, lack of board preparation lectures, status as a re‐taker, and private practice RTP would result in lower pass rates of the ACVIM general examination.

Subjects

Two hundred forty‐eight ACVIM general examinees.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study. Examinees were surveyed using a Qualtrics survey over a 3‐year period. Factors included: study weeks, on‐call duty, board preparation lectures, academic or private practice program, and status as a re‐taker.

Results

First‐attempt examinees were more likely to pass (P < .0001, OR 5.12, 95% CI [2.53, 10.52]). For first‐attempt examinees, on‐call duty during study weeks resulted in a lower pass rate (P = .002, OR 0.31, 95% CI [0.16, 0.67]). General didactic and specific board‐preparation lectures resulted in higher pass rates (P = .003, OR 3.08, 95% CI [1.44, 6.61]; P = .02, OR 3.04, 95% CI [1.20, 7.68]). Diplomate‐led board‐preparation lectures resulted in higher pass rates than resident‐led (P = .007, OR 10.67, 95% CI [1.75, 64.91]). Using a mixed effect logistic model, predicted pass rates were highest with both lack of on‐call duty and presence of didactic lectures (predicted pass rate 95%, 95% CI [0.87, 0.98]).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

To optimize pass rates, RTP should provide study time without on‐call duty. Provision of didactic lectures and specific board‐preparation lectures by diplomates assist in candidate preparation.