Abstract
Background: The Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons examination (MRCS, Parts A and B) is one of the largest postgraduate surgical exams in the world, but little is known about the factors that affect candidate performance. We describe the relationship between both parts of MRCS and several independent predictors of MRCS success. Methods: Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the linear relationship between MRCS Part A and B and logistic regression analysis to identify potential independent predictors of MRCS success. We included all UK medical graduates who attempted either part of MRCS between 2007 and 2016. Results: 7896 candidates made 11,867 attempts at Part A and 4310 made 5738 attempts at Part B. A positive correlation was found between Part A and B first attempt score (r = 0.41, P < 0.001). Gender (male vs. female, odds ratio (OR) 2.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83-4.19), ethnicity (white vs. Black Minority and Ethnic, OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.52-1.89), stage of training (e.g. Core Surgical Year 2 trainees vs. Foundation Year 1 doctors, OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32-0.77) and maturity (young vs. mature graduates, OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.81-3.63) were all found to be independent predictors of Part A success. In addition to ethnicity and stage of training, Part A performance (number of attempts and score) was also identified as an independent predictor for Part B. The odds of passing each part of the MRCS decreased by 14% (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.80-0.92) for Part A and 30% for Part B (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.61-0.81) with each additional attempt that was made. Conclusions: Several independent predictors of MRCS success were identified, but only ethnicity and stage of training were found to be common predictors of both Part A and B.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 220-226 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Surgeon |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 6 Nov 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2018 |
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Keywords
- MRCS
- Postgraduate exams
- Predictors
- Surgery
- Validity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
Cite this
Which factors predict success in the mandatory UK postgraduate surgical exam : The Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS)? / Scrimgeour, D. S.G.; Cleland, J.; Lee, A. J.; Brennan, P. A.
In: Surgeon, Vol. 16, No. 4, 08.2018, p. 220-226.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Which factors predict success in the mandatory UK postgraduate surgical exam
T2 - The Intercollegiate Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS)?
AU - Scrimgeour, D. S.G.
AU - Cleland, J.
AU - Lee, A. J.
AU - Brennan, P. A.
N1 - The authors 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 study was generously funded by the four Surgical Colleges in the British Isles.
PY - 2018/8
Y1 - 2018/8
N2 - Background: The Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons examination (MRCS, Parts A and B) is one of the largest postgraduate surgical exams in the world, but little is known about the factors that affect candidate performance. We describe the relationship between both parts of MRCS and several independent predictors of MRCS success. Methods: Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the linear relationship between MRCS Part A and B and logistic regression analysis to identify potential independent predictors of MRCS success. We included all UK medical graduates who attempted either part of MRCS between 2007 and 2016. Results: 7896 candidates made 11,867 attempts at Part A and 4310 made 5738 attempts at Part B. A positive correlation was found between Part A and B first attempt score (r = 0.41, P < 0.001). Gender (male vs. female, odds ratio (OR) 2.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83-4.19), ethnicity (white vs. Black Minority and Ethnic, OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.52-1.89), stage of training (e.g. Core Surgical Year 2 trainees vs. Foundation Year 1 doctors, OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32-0.77) and maturity (young vs. mature graduates, OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.81-3.63) were all found to be independent predictors of Part A success. In addition to ethnicity and stage of training, Part A performance (number of attempts and score) was also identified as an independent predictor for Part B. The odds of passing each part of the MRCS decreased by 14% (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.80-0.92) for Part A and 30% for Part B (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.61-0.81) with each additional attempt that was made. Conclusions: Several independent predictors of MRCS success were identified, but only ethnicity and stage of training were found to be common predictors of both Part A and B.
AB - Background: The Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons examination (MRCS, Parts A and B) is one of the largest postgraduate surgical exams in the world, but little is known about the factors that affect candidate performance. We describe the relationship between both parts of MRCS and several independent predictors of MRCS success. Methods: Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the linear relationship between MRCS Part A and B and logistic regression analysis to identify potential independent predictors of MRCS success. We included all UK medical graduates who attempted either part of MRCS between 2007 and 2016. Results: 7896 candidates made 11,867 attempts at Part A and 4310 made 5738 attempts at Part B. A positive correlation was found between Part A and B first attempt score (r = 0.41, P < 0.001). Gender (male vs. female, odds ratio (OR) 2.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83-4.19), ethnicity (white vs. Black Minority and Ethnic, OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.52-1.89), stage of training (e.g. Core Surgical Year 2 trainees vs. Foundation Year 1 doctors, OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32-0.77) and maturity (young vs. mature graduates, OR 2.60, 95% CI 1.81-3.63) were all found to be independent predictors of Part A success. In addition to ethnicity and stage of training, Part A performance (number of attempts and score) was also identified as an independent predictor for Part B. The odds of passing each part of the MRCS decreased by 14% (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.80-0.92) for Part A and 30% for Part B (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.61-0.81) with each additional attempt that was made. Conclusions: Several independent predictors of MRCS success were identified, but only ethnicity and stage of training were found to be common predictors of both Part A and B.
KW - MRCS
KW - Postgraduate exams
KW - Predictors
KW - Surgery
KW - Validity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85033482808&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.surge.2017.10.001
DO - 10.1016/j.surge.2017.10.001
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85033482808
VL - 16
SP - 220
EP - 226
JO - The Surgeon
JF - The Surgeon
SN - 1479-666X
IS - 4
ER -