![]() The primary objective of this study is to determine the correlation factor between USMLE and COMLEX scores of EM residency applicants, if one does exist. A separate correlation factor will arise when USMLE Step 2 and COMLEX-USA Level 2 are analyzed. How do the USMLE and COMLEX-USA scores of Lehigh Valley Health Network EM residency applicants compare to those of other EM residencies across the nation?Īn analysis of USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX-USA Level 1 scores will result in a definitive correlation factor. If and how is the correlation factor of USMLE and COMLEX-USA scores related to various demographics such as age, gender, and the osteopathic medical school attended? How does the correlation factor among applicants differ from year to year (both application year and examination year)? If any, what is the correlation factor between COMLEX-USA and USMLE scores of osteopathic emergency medicine residency applicants? This merger will create a single accreditation system responsible for overseeing all medicine residencies in the United States, exacerbating the need for a method to fairly evaluate resident applicants and candidates. In 2012, the non-profit private council responsible for accrediting and overseeing all MD residencies and most DO residencies in the United States, the American Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), plans to assimilate with two other osteopathic medicine-focused organizations, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) by 2015. ![]() Also, this study utilizes applicant test scores dating back to 2006, allowing for comparison of the correlation factor in various years.ĭetermining the existence of a correlation factor between USMLE and COMLEX-USA scores has become more important in light of recent events. Unlike studies in the past, an EM-focused study with a relatively large sample size has never been done. Utilizing the thousands of osteopathic emergency medicine residency applicants received by Lehigh Valley Health Network over the years, this study seeks to find the correlation factor of both USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 and USMLE Step 2 and COMLEX Level 2 scores. One study that only used a sample size of 90 EM residents found that a correlation did not exist between USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX-USA Level 1(Sarko et al 2010), while another study that used 580+ internal medicine residents did find a correlation of 0.85 between COMLEX-USA Level 1 and USMLE Step 1(Chick et al 2010). Studies in the past have tried to find the correlation between USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX-USA Level 1 and USMLE Step 2 and COMLEX-USA Level 2, however the results varied from study to study. Similarly, the USMLE is partly comprised of Step 1 which assesses sciences basic to practice of medicine and mechanisms underlying health, disease, and modes of therapy, and Step 2 which assesses ability to apply medical knowledge, skills, and understanding of clinical science.ĭue to the similarities between the two examinations and the large number of residency programs that accept both COMLEX-USA and USMLE scores, determining if and how the scores are interchangeable could allow residency program directors to better evaluate DO and MD applicants. The comprehensive COMLEX-USA is comprised of Level 1, which assesses basic science knowledge and mechanisms of medicine and health, and Level 2 which tests medical problem solving skills and clinical concepts and principles. The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States (COMLEX-USA) and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) are a series of standardized medical licensing examinations used by osteopathic (DO) and allopathic (MD) medical schools, respectively. Future endeavors of this study include having the data analyzed and possibly trying to find formula that can be used to convert either a USMLE or COMLEX score into the other. Although the data has been collected and coded, the database is yet to be analyzed by a biostatistician making it impossible to determine if a correlation factor does or does not exist. ![]() The secondary objective of the study is to determine the correlation factor by manipulating various demographics such as age, gender, examination year and application year. Due to the vast number of applicants, a relatively large sample size will be used. In this study, ERAS was used to sort through and collect data from past emergency medicine applicants. Due to the large number of residencies that accept both DO and MD applicants, it would potentially hold great value if the two scores were correlated and they could be interchanged. The main objective of this study is to determine whether or not a correlation factor exists between USMLE and COMLEX-USA scores. ![]()
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