The impact of United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) step 1 cutoff scores on recruitment of underrepresented minorities in medicine: A retrospective cross-sectional study.
URiM
USMLE
disparity
diversity
race/ethnicity
Journal
Health science reports
ISSN: 2398-8835
Titre abrégé: Health Sci Rep
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101728855
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jun 2020
Jun 2020
Historique:
received:
07
01
2020
revised:
27
03
2020
accepted:
30
03
2020
entrez:
23
4
2020
pubmed:
23
4
2020
medline:
23
4
2020
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) scores are the single, most objective criteria for admission into residency programs in the country. Underrepresented minorities in medicine (URiM) are found to have lower USMLE scores compared to their White counterparts. The objective of this study is to examine how USMLE step 1 cutoff scores may exclude self-reported URiM from the residency interview process across various specialties. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 10 541 applicants to different residency programs at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health between May 2014 and May 2015. We identified Blacks and Hispanics as URiM. The primary outcome is the percentage of applicants with USMLE step 1 score above different ranges of cutoff score, from 205 to 235 in five-point increments, by race/ethnicity and by URiM status. Secondary outcome is percentages of URiM vs non-URiM above and below mean USMLE step 1 scores by different specialties (internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry). The study sample included 2707 White, 722 Black, 805 Hispanic, 5006 Asian, and 562 Other Race/Ethnicity applicants. Overall, 50.2% were male, 21.3% URiM, 7.4% had limited English proficiency, 67.6% attended international medical schools, and 2.4% are Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA) members. The mean (±SD) USMLE step 1 score was significantly greater among non-URiM applicants as compared to URiM applicants (223.7 ± 19.4 vs 216.1 ± 18.4, Using a USMLE step 1 cutoff score as an initial filter for applicant recruitment and selection could jeopardize the benefits of a diverse residency program. Practical implications are discussed.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
OBJECTIVE
United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) scores are the single, most objective criteria for admission into residency programs in the country. Underrepresented minorities in medicine (URiM) are found to have lower USMLE scores compared to their White counterparts. The objective of this study is to examine how USMLE step 1 cutoff scores may exclude self-reported URiM from the residency interview process across various specialties.
METHODS
METHODS
This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 10 541 applicants to different residency programs at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health between May 2014 and May 2015. We identified Blacks and Hispanics as URiM. The primary outcome is the percentage of applicants with USMLE step 1 score above different ranges of cutoff score, from 205 to 235 in five-point increments, by race/ethnicity and by URiM status. Secondary outcome is percentages of URiM vs non-URiM above and below mean USMLE step 1 scores by different specialties (internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatrics, and psychiatry).
RESULTS
RESULTS
The study sample included 2707 White, 722 Black, 805 Hispanic, 5006 Asian, and 562 Other Race/Ethnicity applicants. Overall, 50.2% were male, 21.3% URiM, 7.4% had limited English proficiency, 67.6% attended international medical schools, and 2.4% are Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AOA) members. The mean (±SD) USMLE step 1 score was significantly greater among non-URiM applicants as compared to URiM applicants (223.7 ± 19.4 vs 216.1 ± 18.4,
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Using a USMLE step 1 cutoff score as an initial filter for applicant recruitment and selection could jeopardize the benefits of a diverse residency program. Practical implications are discussed.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32318628
doi: 10.1002/hsr2.161
pii: HSR2161
pmc: PMC7170452
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
e2161Informations de copyright
© 2020 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
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