Impacting student anxiety for the USMLE Step 1 through process-oriented preparation.
BACKGROUND
Standardized examinations are the key components of medical education. The USMLE Step 1 is the first of these important milestones. Success on this examination requires both content competency and efficient strategies for study and review. Students employ a wide variety of techniques in studying for this examination, with heavy reliance on personal study habits and advice from other students. Nevertheless, few medical curricula formally address these strategies.


METHODS
In response to student-generated critique at our institution, a five-part seminar series on process-oriented preparation was developed and implemented to address such concerns. The series focused on early guidance and preparation strategies for Step 1 and the many other important challenges in medical school. Emphasis was placed on facilitating conversation and mentorship opportunities between students.


CONCLUSIONS
A profoundly positive experience was reported by our medical students that included a decreased anxiety level for the Step 1 examination.
Strowd
Roy E
RE
Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. rstrowd@wfubmc.edu
Lambros
Ann
A
D001007:Anxiety; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*