Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE) certification: validation and predictors of success.
BACKGROUND
The Fundamental Use of Surgical Energy (FUSE) program includes a Web-based didactic curriculum and a high-stakes multiple-choice question examination with the goal to provide certification of knowledge on the safe use of surgical energy-based devices. The purpose of this study was (1) to set a passing score through a psychometrically sound process and (2) to determine what pretest factors predicted passing the FUSE examination.


METHODS
Beta-testing of multiple-choice questions on 62 topics of importance to the safe use of surgical energy-based devices was performed. Eligible test takers were physicians with a minimum of 1 year of surgical training who were recruited by FUSE task force members. A pretest survey collected baseline information.


RESULTS
A total of 227 individuals completed the FUSE beta-test, and 208 completed the pretest survey. The passing/cut score for the first test form of the FUSE multiple-choice examination was determined using the modified Angoff methodology and for the second test form was determined using a linear equating methodology. The overall passing rate across the two examination forms was 81.5%. Self-reported time studying the FUSE Web-based curriculum for a minimum of >2 h was associated with a passing examination score (p < 0.001). Performance was not different based on increased years of surgical practice (p = 0.363), self-reported expertise on one or more types of energy-based devices (p = 0.683), participation in the FUSE postgraduate course (p = 0.426), or having reviewed the FUSE manual (p = 0.428). Logistic regression found that studying the FUSE didactics for >2 h predicted a passing score (OR 3.61; 95% CI 1.44-9.05; p = 0.006) independent of the other baseline characteristics recorded.


CONCLUSIONS
The development of the FUSE examination, including the passing score, followed a psychometrically sound process. Self-reported time studying the FUSE curriculum predicted a passing score independent of other pretest characteristics such as years in practice and self-reported expertise.
Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. thomas.robinson@ucdenver.edu.
Thomas N
TN
Robinson
Department of Surgery, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Jaisa
J
Olasky
Kryterion, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Patricia
P
Young
Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Liane S
LS
Feldman
Department of Surgery, Kaiser Permanente, Walnut Creek, CA, USA.
Pascal R
PR
Fuchshuber
Department of Anesthesiology, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Stephanie B
SB
Jones
Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Amin
A
Madani
Department of Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Michael
M
Brunt
Department of Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Dean
D
Mikami
Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Gretchen P
GP
Jackson
Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Jessica
J
Mischna
Department of Surgery, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Steven
S
Schwaitzberg
Department of Surgery, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
Daniel B
DB
Jones
D002568:Certification; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D011594:Psychometrics
Education; Electrosurgery; Energy-based devices