title: The impact of a peer-designed and -led USMLE Step 1 review course: improvement in preparation and scores.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Medical students use several strategies for United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 preparation. At Ohio State University College of Medicine, a yearlong, peer-designed and -led Step 1 review course is a new option for our second-year students. This study aims to ascertain the value of the peer-designed and -led Step 1 review course, to assess the difference in Step 1 scores between participants and nonparticipants, and to understand the course's role in improving preparation for Step 1 among participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible students completed a confidential survey. Scores between participants and nonparticipants were compared, controlling for preexisting differences between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Course participants had a higher average Step 1 score than nonparticipants (P = .005). The majority of participants felt the course was a valuable use of time and would recommend it to future students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A Step 1 review course designed and led by near-peer senior medical students, those who had successfully completed the USMLE Step 1 exam within the previous year, was shown to be valuable to second-year medical students and improved Step 1 score outcomes.
authors.forename: Alicia M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alcamo
authors.forename: Abby R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Davids
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Way
authors.forename: D Joanne
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lynn
authors.forename: Dale D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Vandre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015510:Clinical Medicine / Q000193:education*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D010379:Peer Group; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires