title: Directed postgraduate study result in quantitative improvement in American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam scores.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The collective study habits of 1 group of residents involved in educationally distinct periods of time in a community-based general surgery residency program were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam (ABSITE) score results of 31 residents were calculated during 3 distinctive educational time periods: resident independent, self-directed study; resident-directed study with weekly systematic textbook reviews; and faculty-directed study with additional formal basic science and clinical lectures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aggregate higher scores were observed when ABSITE results for the directed study period were compared with those observed during the independent study period in mid-level resident years (postgraduate year [PGY] 2 to 4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With limited faculty resources, community-based surgery residency programs have more challenges in opportunities for resident acquisition of cognitive knowledge and subsequent quantitative improvement in ABSITE scores. This study demonstrated a successful methodology particularly in the face of mandated limitation of weekly resident work hours and diminishing allocated education resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, San Joaquin General Hospital, 500 W. Hospital Rd., French Camp, CA 95231, USA. amahmoud@sjgh.hs.co.san-joaquin.ca.us
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Andrus
authors.forename: Nathaniel M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Matolo
authors.forename: Coburn C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013044:Specialty Boards; D014481:United States