Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 2024/11, 239(5):S436. doi: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000001177, type of study: ,des,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Full text    (https://journals.lww.com/journalacs/fulltext/2024/11001/surgical_education.26.aspx)

Keywords:

descriptive study [72]
international students [2]
medical students [693]
osteopathic medicine [2108]
residency [337]
surgical care [69]
USA [1751]

Abstract:

Introduction: The American Board of Surgery (ABS) plays a vital role in certifying surgeons in the United States, with ABSITE serving as a crucial assessment tool for general surgery residents seeking certification. This study aims to compare the performance of international medical graduates to domestic counterparts and evaluate the impact of different medical degrees on ABSITE scores. Methods: Descriptive statistics summarized sample characteristics, and data were analyzed using linear mixed models to address correlations. Statistical analyses were conducted using SAS (version 9.4), with significance defined by a two-sided test with p < 0.05. Results: Our study encompassed general surgery residents at Marshall University between 2014 and 2022, totaling 171 data points. Significant discrepancies emerged in ABSITE performance between international and domestic medical graduates, with international graduates notably outperforming domestic counterparts in ABSITE scores (560 vs. 505) and percentages (74% vs. 68%) (p < 0.01). Conversely, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees exhibited no notable differences in ABSITE performance (p > 0.25). Conclusion: This study highlights performance disparities among general surgery residents based on their international or domestic medical graduate status. International medical graduates consistently outperformed domestic counterparts in ABSITE scores, suggesting the need for further investigation into contributing factors. Additionally, while MD graduates displayed slightly higher ABSITE scores on average, the type of medical degree did not significantly impact performance. Moving forward, research should explore factors contributing to these disparities and interventions to enhance ABSITE preparation strategies for all residents.