An Effective Evidence-Based Student Run Near-Peer Support Group for the USMLE Step 1 Exam
| Autor: | Eric J Tanenbaum, Amanda C. Raff, Aileen P. McGinn, William B. Burton, Eric J. Jordan, Christopher Tenore, Jennifer Cottral, Jacob H. Johnson |
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| Rok vydání: | 2016 |
| Předmět: |
Medical education
Evidence-based practice 020205 medical informatics business.industry medicine.medical_treatment education Medicine (miscellaneous) Team effectiveness Standardized test 02 engineering and technology Peer support Support group Education Test (assessment) 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Intervention (counseling) 0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineering medicine 030212 general & internal medicine Psychology business Study planning |
| Zdroj: | Medical Science Educator. 26:691-699 |
| ISSN: | 2156-8650 |
| Popis: | Despite the existence of data describing student factors and test-taking habits associated with success, preclinical medical students preparing for the USMLE Step 1 exam face the challenges of creating a study plan and selecting between study-aid resources while preparing for this high-stakes test. This is often an expensive and anxiety-provoking experience. A near-peer support group for second year medical students studying for the USMLE Step 1 exam at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein) provided evidence-based recommendations with goals of facilitating study planning and raising scores. An annual survey evaluating study habits and group perception was collected to identify study habits associated with higher Step 1 scores, evaluate group effectiveness, and refine the evidence-based recommendations for optimal exam preparation. Over a 3-year period, 302 students responded to the survey. After simultaneous adjustment for factors associated with Step 1 performance in bivariate analyses, preclinical medical school performance (P 4000 practice questions (P = 0.05) remained independently associated with Step 1 scores. There was a significant increase in the average Step 1 score from 226.8 to 230.5 (P = 0.002) after the group began providing evidence-based advice to students. Over 90 % of respondents were aware of the group and 64 % followed the group’s advice. Sixty-seven percent would recommend the group to subsequent students and 79 % found the near-peer format useful. A student run near-peer support group was a popular and effective mechanism to assist students preparing for the USMLE Step 1 exam by accumulating and disseminating evidence-based study habit recommendations. Certain habits including a start date approximately 6 months in advance and completion of >4000 test-like practice questions may be beneficial in preparing for the Step 1 exam. The increase in average Step 1 score at Einstein may be in part due to this intervention or may represent part of a national trend. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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