[The selection of resident physicians. The evaluation of their cardiology knowledge and of their pregraduate experience]

Medicina (B Aires). 1992;52(6):549-54.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to assess the level of cardiological knowledge in a population of recently graduated physicians and to compare the examination results with pregraduation experiences. The results of the residency entrance examinations of 230 physicians from different universities were analyzed (Table 1). The examination consisted of 70 questions (69 by multiple choice and 1 of professional competence). The cardiovascular area was explored through 28 questions including basic and clinical subjects (Fig. 1). A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the examination was made based on difficulty and discrimination levels (Annex 1-2). A danger level was established when the answer involved a potential risk of death for the patient. Thirty percent of applicants passed the exam (60% of correct answers). Informative questions were easier than those of application and interpretation. A greater difficulty was evidenced with respect to questions in the clinical area (Fig. 3). A higher performance was noted in men, graduates from the University of Buenos Aires and those applicants with assistance and teaching experience. A remarkable positive correlation between average marks during the students career and the level of marks obtained in this exam (Fig. 2) was noted. Twenty-six percent of the physicians who failed gave potentially dangerous answers (Fig. 4). The examination results give us the opportunity to obtain information regarding features of university education.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Argentina
  • Cardiology / education*
  • Educational Measurement / methods*
  • Educational Measurement / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internship and Residency* / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Personnel Selection / methods*
  • Personnel Selection / statistics & numerical data
  • Workforce