Evaluation of Shoulder and Elbow Questions on the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination as an Instrument for Enhancing Examination Preparation

Abstract

The Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE), produced by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), is administered yearly to orthopaedic residents across the United States. First administered in 1963, the OITE is the oldest existing examination of its kind created for specialty training. This examination serves multiple purposes. As initially set forth by the AAOS, the examination serves to (1) allow residents to assess their level of orthopaedic knowledge on the basis of a national average, (2) set minimal standards for orthopaedic residents, and (3) quantify the quality of education at various orthopaedic programs1. The OITE has served not only as an annual evaluation of orthopaedic resident training in the U.S., but also as a learning tool for residents, as they are subsequently given the preferred answers to questions and pertinent citations after examination scores are tallied. We analyzed the shoulder and elbow content of the OITE to assist trainees and residency training program directors in preparing for the OITE and, ultimately, the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) examination. Research has shown OITE scores to be a predictor of success on the ABOS examination, and effective preparation for the OITE may serve trainees well in preparing for the examination at the culmination of their residency training2. Many residency training programs have formal OITE preparatory curricula, and the analysis and classification undertaken in this study can guide the creation and organization of a syllabus for this purpose. Preparing for the OITE can be an opportunity to focus on the highly tested topics in orthopaedics. Identification of commonly tested concepts may also help improve the efficiency of resident preparation by directing a methodical approach to a large volume of information. It is important to remember that the OITE has never been validated to measure the overall quality of …