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. 2020 Dec 17;8(12):e3266.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003266. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Implications of Pass/Fail Step 1 Scoring: Plastic Surgery Program Director and Applicant Perspective

Lawrence O Lin  1 , Alan T Makhoul  2 , Paige N Hackenberger  1 , Nishant Ganesh Kumar  3 , Anna R Schoenbrunner  1 , Matthew E Pontell  4 , Brian C Drolet  5 , Jeffrey E Janis  1
Affiliations

Implications of Pass/Fail Step 1 Scoring: Plastic Surgery Program Director and Applicant Perspective

Lawrence O Lin et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

As early as 2022, United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 results will be reported as pass or fail, rather than as 3-digit numeric scores. This survey examines the perspectives of plastic surgery applicants and program directors (PD) regarding this score reporting change.

Methods: A 24-item survey was distributed to integrated applicants from the 2018-19 and 2019-20 application cycles. An analogous 28-item survey was sent to integrated and independent plastic surgery training program directors. Data were analyzed using summary tables and marginal homogeneity tests.

Results: 164 applicants (33.2%) and 64 PDs (62.1%) completed the survey. Most applicants (60.3%) and PDs (81.0%) were not in favor of the score reporting change. As a result of binary scoring, a majority of respondents anticipate that residency programs will use Step 2 CK scores to screen applicants (applicants: 95.7%, PDs: 82.8%), prioritize students from more prestigious medical schools (applicants: 91.5%, PDs: 52.4%), and that dedicated research time will become more important (applicants: 87.9%, PDs: 45.3%). Most applicants (66.4%) and PDs (53.1%) believe that there will be an increase in plastic surgery applicants. Applicants and PDs anticipate that the top 3 metrics used by programs when deciding to offer an interview will change as a result of binary Step 1 scoring.

Conclusions: Most plastic surgery applicants and PDs do not support the change in United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 scoring to pass or fail. The majority believe that other metrics (such as Step 2 CK scores, research experience, and medical school reputation) will become more important in the application process.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Dr. Jeffrey E Janis receives royalties from Thieme and Springer Publishing. No other authors have any relevant disclosures.

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