title: Relevancy of an In-Service Examination for Core Knowledge Training in a Surgical Subspecialty.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To facilitate knowledge acquisition during plastic surgery residency, we analyzed the breast curriculum on the Plastic Surgery In-Service Training Exam (PSITE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Breast-related questions on 6 consecutive PSITEs were analyzed (2008-2013). Topics were categorized by the content outline for the American Board of Plastic Surgery written board examination. Question vignettes were classified by taxonomy and clinical setting. References for correct answer choices were categorized by source and publication lag.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 136 breast-related questions were analyzed (136/1174, 12%). Questions tended to appear more in the Breast and Cosmetic (75%) section than the Comprehensive (25%) section (p < 0.001). Most question vignettes were written in a clinical setting (64%, p < 0.001). Question taxonomy was evenly distributed among recall (34%), interpretation (28%), and decision-making (37%, p > 0.05). Only 6% of questions required photographic evaluation. Breast-related topics focused on esthetic problems (35%), traumatic deformities (22%), and tumors (21%). Answer references comprised 293 citations to 63 unique journals published a median of 6 years before PSITE administration. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (57%) was the most cited journal (p < 0.001) and Surgery of the Breast: Principles and Art by Spear was the most referenced textbook (22%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PSITE affords a curriculum that reflects breast-related topics on the American Board of Plastic Surgery written board examination. These data may optimize knowledge acquisition in esthetic and reconstructive breast surgery.
authors: The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Silvestre
authors: The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Chang
authors: The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: joseph.serletti@uphs.upenn.edu.
authors: Joseph M
authors: JM
authors: Serletti
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000193:education*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000193:education*
keywords: Medical Knowledge; PSITE; Patient Care; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; boards; examination; in service; residency; resident education