Predictors of success in the Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) examination

TY - JOUR

T1 - Predictors of success in the Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS) examination

AU - Scrimgeour, DSG

AU - Cleland, J

AU - Lee, AJ

AU - Brennan, PA

N1 - The author would like to acknowledge Iain Targett at the Royal College of Surgeons of England for his help with data collection and both Lee Smith and Gregory Ayre from the Intercollegiate Committee for Basic Surgical Examinations for their support during this project. This paper was presented to the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland 2017 International Surgical Congress, Glasgow, UK, May 2017. Sources of financial support include Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Royal College of Surgeons of England, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

PY - 2018/7

Y1 - 2018/7

N2 - Introduction The Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS, Parts A and B) is designed to safeguard patients and ensure high standards for trainees wishing to pursue a surgical career. We investigated which factors predict Part A and B success. Methods UK graduates who had attempted both parts of MRCS from September 2007 to February 2016 were included. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the linear relationship between each part of MRCS and logistic regression analysis to identify potential independent predictors of MRCS pass/fail outcome. Results A positive correlation between Part A and B score was identified (r = 0.41, P < 0.01). In Part A, males had higher pass rates than females (odds ratio, OR, 2.78, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.83–4.19), white candidates were more likely to pass than black minority and ethnic doctors (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.52–1.89), foundation year 1 doctors had higher pass rates than all other grades (e.g. core surgical year 2 trainees vs. foundation year 1 doctors, OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32–0.77) and younger graduates were more likely to pass than older graduates (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.81–3.63). In addition to ethnicity and stage of training, Part A performance (number of attempts and score) was an independent predictor for Part B. Conclusions Part A performance is related to Part B score. Many independent predictors of MRCS success were identified, but only stage of training and ethnicity were found to be common predictors of both parts. This article summarises the findings of our most recent MRCS study which was published in The Surgeon (online) in October 2017.1

AB - Introduction The Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS, Parts A and B) is designed to safeguard patients and ensure high standards for trainees wishing to pursue a surgical career. We investigated which factors predict Part A and B success. Methods UK graduates who had attempted both parts of MRCS from September 2007 to February 2016 were included. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the linear relationship between each part of MRCS and logistic regression analysis to identify potential independent predictors of MRCS pass/fail outcome. Results A positive correlation between Part A and B score was identified (r = 0.41, P < 0.01). In Part A, males had higher pass rates than females (odds ratio, OR, 2.78, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.83–4.19), white candidates were more likely to pass than black minority and ethnic doctors (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.52–1.89), foundation year 1 doctors had higher pass rates than all other grades (e.g. core surgical year 2 trainees vs. foundation year 1 doctors, OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32–0.77) and younger graduates were more likely to pass than older graduates (OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.81–3.63). In addition to ethnicity and stage of training, Part A performance (number of attempts and score) was an independent predictor for Part B. Conclusions Part A performance is related to Part B score. Many independent predictors of MRCS success were identified, but only stage of training and ethnicity were found to be common predictors of both parts. This article summarises the findings of our most recent MRCS study which was published in The Surgeon (online) in October 2017.1

KW - MRCS

KW - Postgraduate examinations

KW - Surgery

KW - Validity

KW - Predictors

U2 - 10.1308/rcsann.2018.0073

DO - 10.1308/rcsann.2018.0073

M3 - Article

C2 - 29607719

VL - 100

SP - 424

EP - 427

JO - Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England

JF - Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England

SN - 0035-8843

IS - 6

ER -