title: A multicenter analysis of the ophthalmic knowledge assessment program and American Board of Ophthalmology written qualifying examination performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the performance on the American Board of Ophthalmology Written Qualifying Examination (WQE) with the performance on step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and the Ophthalmic Knowledge Assessment Program (OKAP) examination for residents in multiple residency programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparative case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen residency programs with 339 total residents participated in this study. The data were extracted from the 5-year American Board of Ophthalmology report to each participating program in 2009 and included residency graduating classes from 2003 through 2007. Residents were included if data were available for the USMLE, OKAP examination in ophthalmology years 1 through 3, and the WQE score. Residents were excluded if one or more of the test scores were not available.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-sample t tests, logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to examine the association of the various tests (USMLE, OKAP examination year 1, OKAP examination year 2, OKAP examination year 3, and maximum OKAP examination score) as a predictor for a passing or failing grade on the WQE.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure of this study was first time pass rate for the WQE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using ROC analysis, the OKAP examination taken at the third year of ophthalmology residency best predicted performance on the WQE. For the OKAP examination taken during the third year of residency, the probability of passing the WQE was at least 80% for a score of 35 or higher and at least 95% for a score of 72 or higher.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The OKAP examination, especially in the third year of residency, can be useful to residents to predict the likelihood of success on the high-stakes WQE examination.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA. AGLee@tmhs.org
authors: Andrew G
authors: AG
authors: Lee
authors: Thomas A
authors: TA
authors: Oetting
authors: Preston H
authors: PH
authors: Blomquist
authors: Geoffrey
authors: G
authors: Bradford
authors: Susan M
authors: SM
authors: Culican
authors: Carolyn
authors: C
authors: Kloek
authors: Chandrasekharan
authors: C
authors: Krishnan
authors: Andreas K
authors: AK
authors: Lauer
authors: Leah
authors: L
authors: Levi
authors: Ayman
authors: A
authors: Naseri
authors: Steven E
authors: SE
authors: Rubin
authors: Ingrid U
authors: IU
authors: Scott
authors: Jeremiah
authors: J
authors: Tao
authors: Sonal
authors: S
authors: Tuli
authors: Martha M
authors: MM
authors: Wright
authors: Darrell
authors: D
authors: Wudunn
authors: M Bridget
authors: MB
authors: Zimmerman
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014481:United States