title: Characteristics of residency training associated with first-time pass rate on the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists certifying examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the association of various aspects of veterinary ophthalmology residency training with the first-time pass rate (FTPR) of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) examination, as well as the individual written, image recognition, animal examination, and surgical sections of the examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Program type, resident evaluations, cumulative surgery and case logs, and scores from ACVO examinations from 2007 to 2010 were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were available for 71 candidates. The overall FTPR was 35% (n = 25). For the different sections of the examination, FTPRs were as follows: written (68%), image recognition (76%), intraocular surgery (80%), extraocular surgery (65%), and animal examination (75%). The overall FTPR among candidates from academic residency (AR) programs was 43% (20 of 47), while the FTPR of residents in private practice (PPR) programs was 21% (5 of 24; P = 0.07). The AR candidates were more likely to pass the written portion than PPR residents (P = 0.02), and AR candidates had significantly more time off clinics (median 25%) vs PPR residents (median 18%; P = 0.007). The AR residents also had a higher reported percentage of direct supervision than PPR residents (95% vs 76%, respectively). Although PPR residents did significantly more surgeries and examined significantly more dogs and cats, those from ARs examined significantly more equine, bovine, avian, camelid, and reptile species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, AR residents had a higher FTPR and were more likely to pass the written portion of the examination. Total case and surgery numbers were not associated with FTPR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Diane V H
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Hendrix
authors.forename: Ellison
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: Barton W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Rohrbach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004520:Education, Veterinary / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004521:Educational Measurement; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical / Q000592:standards*; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012958:Societies, Scientific / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States
keywords: examination performance; residency training; veterinary ophthalmology