A Plea to Reassess the Role of United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Scores in Residency Selection

摘要

The three-step United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) was developed by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the Federation of State Medical Boards to provide medical licensing authorities a uniform evaluation system on which to base licensure. The test results appear to be a good measure of content knowledge and a reasonable predictor of performance on subsequent in-training and certification exams. Nonetheless, it is disconcerting that the test preoccupies so much of students' attention with attendant substantial costs (in time and money) and mental and emotional anguish.