A comparison of 3- and 4-option multiple-choice items for medical subspecialty in-training examinations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The American Board of Anesthesiology piloted 3-option multiple-choice items (MCIs) for its 2020 administration of 150-item subspecialty in-training examinations for Critical Care Medicine (ITE-CCM) and Pediatric Anesthesiology (ITE-PA). The 3-option MCIs were transformed from their 4-option counterparts, which were administered in 2019, by removing the least effective distractor. The purpose of this study was to compare physician performance, response time, and item and exam characteristics between the 4-option and 3-option exams.

Methods

Independent-samples t-test was used to examine the differences in physician percent-correct score; paired t-test was used to examine the differences in response time and item characteristics. The Kuder and Richardson Formula 20 w

SUBMITTER: Chen D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10134669 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature