Perspectives From the RadDiscord Annual Survey: Overview of the Top Study Tools and Evaluation of Study Time and Various Resources

Abstract

Each year, senior radiology residents take the American Board of Radiology Qualifying (Core) exam to evaluate competency. Approximately 10% of first-time examinees will fail this exam (1). Understanding factors that contribute to success will help residency program directors and trainees prepare for future exams. RadDiscord (www.raddiscord.org), an international radiology educational community, is in the unique position to evaluate different study materials and resources. The goal of this paper is to report the results from the RadDiscord survey and analyze the factors that correlate with higher exam performance and passing. Following the February 2021, June 2021, and June 2022 exams, RadDiscord members were provided an anonymous survey, collecting information on study resources and exam scores. The collected data were analyzed using various statistical methods. Both descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. A total of 318 residents responded (95% passed). Significant variability in Qualifying (Core) exam performance and perceived quality of internal didactics existed between program types. Residents who did less than 2000 practice questions performed lower on the exam. The Diagnostic Radiology In-Training (DXIT) exam was the most predictive for passing and performance. Qualifying (Core) exam performance negatively correlated with study time, though certain residents did receive some benefit from study time. Many factors correlate with passing and Qualifying (Core) exam performance. Residency programs with fewer resources should consider alternative ways to support residents beyond offering study time. Residents who complete at least 2000 practice questions are more likely to pass and DXIT results can be a useful gauge to identify exam readiness.