Medical education in the Caribbean: variability in medical school programs and performance of students.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to examine the structure of medical training programs in the Caribbean and the performance of the students.


METHODS
There are 56 medical schools in 16 countries currently recognized and open in the Caribbean. Almost 30,000 students from this region applied for exams leading to Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification between 1993 and 2007. The authors summarized school characteristics and pass rates on United States Medical Licensing Examinations, by country.


RESULTS
The structure of medical education varies across the region, including existence of accrediting bodies and review processes. First-attempt pass rates by country ranged from 19.4% to 84.4% for Step 1, from 26.3% to 79.7% for the Step 2 Clinical Knowledge Examination, and from 60.6% to 97.2% for the Step 2 Clinical Skills Examination.


CONCLUSIONS
There is significant variability in undergraduate medical education and the performance of students of medical schools in Caribbean nations.
van Zanten
Marta
M
FAIMER, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. mvanzanten@faimer.org
Boulet
John R
JR
D000068:Accreditation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D026683:Advisory Committees / Q000458:organization & administration; D017691:Caribbean Region; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data