The Impact of Changes to the Written Communication Construct on Examinee Performance and Pacing: Findings From the USMLE (United States Medical Licensing Examination) Step 2 Clinical Skills 2011 Pilot Examinations

• In Event: Measurement Issues in Medical Licensure and Certification

Abstract

The USMLE® Step 2 Clinical Skills (CS®) examination is a standardized-patient (SP) based assessment that assesses readiness of physicians to enter supervised practice. The examination is undergoing changes in the constructs being measured. One change is to the patient note (PN), a written communications component that is being modified to include an explicit measure of clinical reasoning. Data from pilot studies were analyzed to assess the impact of changes on examinee time use and the relationship between PN time and scores. Preliminary results suggest examinees are using more time on the new PN, with a widening gap between US and international medical graduates. Results will have implications for time limits and components of Step 2 CS in the future.

Authors

• Kimberly A. Swygert, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Su G. Baldwin, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Thomas Rebbecchi, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates

• Colette Scott, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Gail E. Furman, National Board of Medical Examiners

• Jeannette M. Sanger, National Board of Medical Examiners