title: Analysis of an In-Service Examination for Core Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery Knowledge.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about designing an effective residency curriculum for pediatric craniofacial surgery. This study elucidates the pediatric craniofacial curriculum of the Plastic Surgery In-Service Training Examination (PSITE) to facilitate knowledge acquisition during residency.
  
  
  METHODS
  Approximately, 6 consecutive PSITEs were reviewed for pediatric craniofacial questions (2010-2015). Subjects were categorized according to topics on the American Board of Plastic Surgery written board examination. Questions were categorized using an educational taxonomy model. Answer references were categorized by source and publication lag.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1174 PSITE questions, 147 tested pediatric craniofacial topics (12.5%). Questions appeared predominately in the Craniomaxillofacial section (83.0%, p < 0.001). The annual representation was stable more than 6 years (range: 10.2%-14.4%, p = 0.842). Question taxonomy favored interpretation (45.6%) and decision-making (40.8%) over recall (13.6%, p < 0.001) skills, and 41 questions had an associated image (27.9%) and most were photographic (76.7%, p < 0.001). The most frequently tested categories on the American Board of Plastic Surgery written examination content outline were craniofacial anomalies (23.5%), benign and malignant tumors (17.6%), and cleft lip and palate (12.5%). Overall, 80 unique journals were cited 304 times with a mean publication lag of 9.4 ± 10.9 years. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (34.5%) was the most cited journal (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data may assist in designating core knowledge competency in pediatric craniofacial surgery for plastic surgery residents. A further understanding of PSITE utility for core knowledge competency in pediatric craniofacial surgery would be the focus of future work.
authors: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Silvestre
authors: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Chang
authors: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: jataylor@gmail.com.
authors: Jesse A
authors: JA
authors: Taylor
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States
keywords: Medical Knowledge; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Systems-Based Practice; boards; craniomaxillofacial; education; examination; residency; training