title: Orthopaedic in-training examination: an analysis of the sports medicine section.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since 1963, the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) has been administered to orthopaedic residents to assess resident knowledge and measure the quality of teaching within individual programs. The OITE has evolved dramatically over the years and now maintains a standardized format consisting of 275 questions divided among 12 sections.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide a detailed analysis of the OITE sports medicine section to identify patterns in question content, recommended references, and resident performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All OITE sports medicine questions from 2005 to 2009 were analyzed, and the following data were recorded: resident performance scores, tested topics, type of imaging modalities, tested treatment modalities, taxonomy classification, and recommended references.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2005 to 2009, the sports medicine section composed 7.8% of the OITE. Mean resident performance on the entire OITE as well as on the sports medicine section improved during each year of training. Imaging modalities typically involved questions on radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging and constituted 27.4% of the OITE sports medicine section. Treatment modalities involved 36.8% of the OITE sports medicine section questions, including most treatment questions relating to ligament reconstruction or rehabilitation. The authors' assessment of taxonomy classification showed that recall-type questions were most common; however, mean resident performance was minimally affected by type of taxonomy question. Finally, there were trends noted in recommended references; namely, the American Journal of Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Knowledge Update Sports Medicine were the most commonly and consistently cited journal and review book, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study provides some unique information relating to content, recommended references, and resident performance on the OITE sports medicine section. It is hoped this information will provide orthopaedic trainees, orthopaedic residency programs, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Evaluation Committee valuable information relating to improving resident knowledge and performance and optimizing sports medicine educational curricula.
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA. osbahrd@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daryl C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Osbahr
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: Asheesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bedi
authors.forename: Joseph T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Answorth A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Altchek
authors.forename: Joshua S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dines
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000193:education*; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000193:education*