A Multilevel analysis of the relationships between examinee gender and United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) step 2 CK content area performance.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of (1) gender on Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) content area performance, (2) gender on the relationships between Step 1 scores and Step 2 CK content area performance, and (3) medical school characteristics on the relationships between examinee characteristics and Step 2 CK content area performance.


METHODS
The sample included 23,538 examinees from 136 Liaison Committee on Medical Education-accredited medical schools/campuses. Descriptive statistics were computed, and a series of examinees-nested-in-schools hierarchical linear models was conducted.


RESULTS
Observed differences indicated that women generally outperformed men in most content areas and that controlling for Step 1 scores increased these gender-related score differences. Step 1 scores were more associated with Step 2 CK content area performance for men. School characteristics were generally unrelated to the relationships between examinee characteristics and Step 2 CK content area performance.


CONCLUSIONS
While past research indicated that women outperformed men in some content areas, and men outperformed women in others, the current study revealed a somewhat different pattern, with women outperforming men in most content areas.
Cuddy
Monica M
MM
National Board of Medical Examiners, 3750 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. mcuddy@nbme.org
Swanson
David B
DB
Clauser
Brian E
BE
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003142:Communication; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States