title: [Finnish language proficiency of immigrant physicians in medical licensure examinations].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physicians immigrating to Finland from countries outside the EU/EEA must pass a language test and three medical licensure examinations (MLE) in Finnish. Failing rates are high and remarkably variable.
  
  
  METHODS
  MLE examination papers were analyzed with linguistic criteria: writing skills and word frequency. Results of the linguistic analyses were compared with the MLE scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Better results in writing skills analysis correlate with higher scores in MLE. Also a higher portion of rare words correlates with higher scores in MLE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mandatory language test does not serve as a valid measurement tool for immigrant physicians.
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tervola
authors.forename: Anneli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pajunen
authors.forename: Seppo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vainio
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Honko
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mattila
mesh_terms: D003144:Communication Barriers; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005550:Foreign Medical Graduates; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D008297:Male