MEDICAL EDUCATION. Five-Year Summary of COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Examinee Performance and Survey Data

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1 Five-Year Summary of COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Examinee Performance and Survey Data Erik E. Langenau, DO; Caitlin Dyer, MA; William L. Roberts, EdD; Crystal Wilson, MEd; and John Gimpel, DO, MEd The authors present data on examination format and examinee demographics, performance, and survey results for the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation (COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE) from the first five testing cycles ( to ). First-time examinees in the testing cycle had a pass rate of 96.1%, compared with a pass rate of 94.7% for first-time examinees in the testing cycle. Pass rates were fairly consistent across all testing cycles. Based on postexamination survey results from all testing cycles, the majority of examinees reported that the cases in COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE represented appropriate challenges for fourth-year osteopathic medical students. The majority of examinees also reported that comprehensive standardized patient-based examinations and exercises were administered through their colleges of osteopathic medicine. In addition, survey results indicated overall satisfaction among examinees with the administration of COMLEX- USA Level 2-PE. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2010;110(3): June 25, 2009, marked the end of the fifth testing cycle for the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation (COMLEX- USA Level 2-PE), administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). This examination was developed to assess the fundamental clinical skill competence of osteopathic medical students who are preparing to enter graduate medical education and working to obtain medical licensure. From the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) National Center for Clinical Skills Testing in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Financial Disclosures: None reported. Address correspondence to Erik E. Langenau, DO, Vice President for the National Center for Clinical Skills Testing, NBOME, 101 W Elm St, Suite 150, Conshohocken, PA elangenau@nbome.org Submitted August 24, 2009; accepted October 7, Testing medical students for clinical skills competence using the objective structured clinical examination format was first described in Scotland in Objective structured clinical examinations and standardized patient-based examinations including simulations by standardized patients (SPs) portraying typical medical complaints within an ambulatory setting have since become the methods of choice for assessing clinical skills of medical students. 2-7 Since 2004, the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE has been used to fulfill NBOME s mission of protecting the public and enhancing patient safety through the evaluation of clinical skills proficiency of graduates from colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs). All students graduating from COMs after January 1, 2005, have been required to pass COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE in order to complete the entire COMLEX-USA series. 8 In addition, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) has instituted a policy requiring all osteopathic medical students graduating after December 1, 2007, to pass both the PE and the Cognitive Evaluation (CE, a multiple choice test format) components of COMLEX-USA Level 2 before graduation. 9 In the present report, we use data from the first five testing cycles ( to ) to describe the format of and requirements for COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE; the demographic characteristics of examinees; the pass/fail rates and trends in examinee performance on the two domains of COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE ( Humanistic Domain, Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain ); and the survey responses by examinees regarding the examination and their previous exposure to standardized patient encounters. Format Standardized patient-based examinations and objective structured clinical examinations are routinely used for formative assessments in osteopathic and allopathic medical schools 7,10-13 and graduate medical education programs, as well as for summative assessments in medical schools 12,18,19 and licensure. 4 During COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, examinees rotate through 12 stations, in which they evaluate SPs who have been trained to simulate a variety of typical clinical presentations. Each of the 12 stations includes a 14-minute patient- 114 JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March 2010

2 physician encounter (ie, case), followed by a 9-minute period in which the examinee completes a written note about the encounter the SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) Note. Cases are assigned under blueprint content categories (eg, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neuromusculoskeletal, respiratory, other clinical presentations) and are designed to vary in SP age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Cases also vary in clinical complaints, which could be acute or chronic in nature or provide opportunities for health promotion or disease prevention. At the start of the examination, students are randomly assigned to a pretest station, which may contain unscored material used to evaluate new SPs and cases. Research shows no benefit from the administration of unscored material at any time during the examination. 20 Examinee performance measures are collected from each of the test stations. A student is eligible to take the COMLEX-USA Level 2- PE if he or she has passed the COMLEX-USA Level 1, has completed his or her second academic year at a COM accredited by the COCA, and has been approved to take the examination by the COM s office of the dean. If an individual has already graduated from a COM, that individual must provide a verified copy of his or her diploma to take COMLEX- USA Level 2-PE. 8 Examinee Characteristics The number of COM matriculates and graduates has increased since 2004 as a result of expanded class sizes among existing osteopathic medical schools and the opening of new branch campuses. 21 The first-year enrollment for osteopathic medical students in 2004 was 3646, increasing to 4528 by With this increase in the number of students entering the osteopathic medical profession, the total number of COMLEX- USA Level 2-PE examinees including first-time examinees and repeat examinees has also increased with each testing cycle (Figure 1). The COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE is offered year-round, though the number of examinees tested per month varies throughout each testing cycle (Figure 2). The number of firsttime examinees in the testing cycle was greatest in months near the end of the cycle. During the past four testing cycles, however, there has been a steady increase in the number of first-time examinees at the beginning of each cycle. In response to the COCA requirement that students complete both COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and Level 2-PE before graduation, the NBOME increased testing capacity so that students could take the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE before January 31 during the and testing cycles. By taking this examination before January 31 of the expected year Examinees, No COMPLEX-USA Level 2-PE Testing Cycle Figure 1. Number of examinees taking the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation (COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE), by testing cycle. The testing cycle consisted of 13 months (June 1, 2008-June 30, 2009). The other testing cycles consisted of 12 months. JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March

3 Examinees, No Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Month of Testing Cycle Sept Oct Nov Dec Figure 2. Number of first-time examinees taking the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Level-USA 2-Performance Evaluation (COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE), by testing cycle and month. The testing cycle consisted of 13 months (June 1, June 30, 2009), with 393 first-time examinees in June 2008 and 371 first-time examinees in June The other testing cycles consisted of 12 months. of graduation, most first-time failing students should have sufficient opportunity to reschedule and retest, receiving a second score report before graduation. Data from the testing cycle, as shown in Figure 2, suggest that the majority of examinees schedule the examination early in the academic year to take advantage of the opportunity to retest if needed. Demographic characteristics of first-time examinees across all testing cycles are presented in Table 1. The percentage of examinees who were women was slightly higher than the percentage of examinees who were men in the third, fourth, and fifth testing cycles the opposite of the proportions in the first two cycles. The primary racial group in all testing cycles was white, followed by Asian and black or African American. English was the primary spoken language for all testing cycles. These examinee demographic data are consistent with data reported by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine for osteopathic medical student matriculates and graduates. 23 Competency Measures Examinees must pass two domains the Humanistic Domain and the Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain to pass COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE. Failure in either domain results in failure of the entire examination. Separately scored components are used to measure performance in each of the domains (Figure 3). The Humanistic Domain, as measured by NBOME s Global Patient Assessment (GPA) Tool, consists of the following six components: listening skills, respectfulness, empathy, professionalism, ability to elicit information, and ability to provide information. Each of these components is evaluated by the SP using the GPA Tool, a holistic Likert scale based scoring instrument. 24 For the testing cycle, the generalizability coefficient for the Humanistic Domain, as measured by the GPA Tool, was 0.85 a coefficient that was similar to those measured in previous testing cycles. This reliability measure is also similar to measures found for other high-stakes clinical skills examinations. 25 The Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain is comprised of three weighted component scores that reflect medical and scientific knowledge synthesized with clinical skill performance across all SP stations. The components are as follows: (1) data gathering, which reflects the examinee s ability to obtain a medical history and perform a physical examination; (2) osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which reflects the examinee s ability to integrate osteopathic principles into clinical practice and to use OMT; and (3) SOAP Notes, which reflect the examinee s written communication skills and ability to synthesize information, develop a differential diagnosis, and formulate a diagnostic and treatment plan. Data gathering, a clinical skill competency measure, is scored on a percent metric based on the number of checklist items correctly obtained during the medical history and the number of correctly performed physical examination maneuvers recorded by the SP. Although osteopathic principles are assessed throughout the examination, the examinee s performance of OMT is specifically assessed in 25% to 40% of the encounters. Performance of OMT is scored by osteopathic physician examiners who are trained to evaluate OMT skills using a holistic Likert scale based scoring instrument. The SOAP Notes are also scored by osteopathic physician examiners using another Likert scale based instrument. For the testing cycle, the generalizability coefficient for the Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain score was As measures of reliability, other clinical skills performance assessments show similar generalizability coefficients 116 JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March 2010

4 Table 1 Characteristics of First-Time Examinees in COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Testing Cycles, No. (%) * Testing Cycle Characteristic N=2720 N=2856 N=3099 N=3476 N=4353 Sex Men 1422 (52.3) 1485 (52.0) 1529 (49.3) 1715 (49.3) 1888 (43.4) Women 1256 (46.2) 1337 (46.8) 1557 (50.2) 1737 (50.0) 1984 (45.6) Race American Indian/Alaska Native 26 (1.0) 20 (0.7) 22 (0.7) 17 (0.5) 11 (0.3) Asian 404 (14.9) 390 (13.7) 418 (13.5) 554 (15.9) 588 (13.5) Black or African American 16 (0.6) 14 (0.5) 10 (0.3) 130 (3.7) 139 (3.2) Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 67 (2.5) 101 (3.5) 124 (4.0) 19 (0.5) 26 (0.6) White 2073 (76.2) 2201 (77.1) 2384 (76.9) 2561 (73.7) 2664 (61.2) Ethnicity Hispanic/Latino 83 (3.1) 96 (3.4) 108 (3.5) 125 (3.6) 157 (3.6) Not Hispanic/Latino 2448 (90.0) 2391 (83.7) 2614 (84.3) 2326 (66.9) 2294 (52.7) English as Primary Language Yes 2451 (90.1) 2626 (91.9) 2853 (92.1) 3175 (91.3) 3548 (81.5) No 211 (7.8) 199 (7.0) 232 (7.5) 271 (7.8) 226 (5.2) * Percentages are based only on examinees who responded and, therefore, may not total 100. Abbreviation: COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation. for data gathering and postencounter notes. 25 The component scores for patient encounters in the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE are averaged across all scored stations to compute the examinee s average performance during the testing day. The average performance rating provides a compensatory score within each domain of the examination, allowing poor performance in one station to be compensated with better performance in another station. After all scores are computed and equated to take into account the relative leniency or stringency of SPs and physician examiners, the pass/fail decision for COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE is based on standards applied to the cut score of each domain. Pass/fail standards are based on minimal competency for entry into graduate medical education. Figure 3. The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation (COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE) consists of two domains the Humanistic Domain and the Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain. The Humanistic Domain includes six separately scored components (listening skills, respectfulness, empathy, professionalism, ability to elicit information, ability to provide information), which are measured by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners Global Patient Assessment Tool. The Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain has three separately scored, weighted components: data gathering (reflecting the examinee s ability to obtain a medical history and perform a physical examination); osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT, reflecting the examinee s ability to integrate osteopathic principles into clinical practice and to use OMT); and SOAP Notes (reflecting the examinee s written communication skills and ability to synthesize information, develop a differential diagnosis, and formulate a diagnostic and treatment plan). JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March

5 Evaluation of SOAP Note Accuracy Beginning with the testing cycle, the NBOME officially implemented screening, reviewing, and reporting processes for SOAP Note fabrication. The Orientation Guide for COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE 26 contains the following description of SOAP Note fabrication: Falsification of the medical record (written SOAP Notes) in COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE by documenting medical history that was not elicited, or physical examination maneuvers or techniques that were not performed, is considered irregular conduct and will be thoroughly investigated and dealt with as specified in NBOME s Bulletin of Information. Examinees are informed that misrepresenting findings in the SOAP Note is a form of irregular conduct that can result in a failing score with an annotated score report and transcript. Additional information about the SOAP Note fabrication process can be obtained not only in NBOME s Orientation Guide, 26 but also in the instructional program video available at NBOME s Web site and in various local and national presentations to student groups. This information is also presented in each 50-minute orientation session that occurs immediately before the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE is administered. Sandella et al 27 describes NBOME s two flagging and screening procedures for SOAP Note fabrication. In one procedure, physician examiners are instructed to report any inconsistencies in note documentation. In the other procedure, psychometric analysis is used to detect inconsistencies between data gathering and note documentation scores. When SOAP Notes have been flagged for potential fabrication, a comprehensive review is undertaken by the NBOME. When the NBOME determines that a substantial number of SOAP Notes contain information that was not elicited during the patient en counter, the examinee receives a failing score report with the annotation of irregular conduct. Results of SOAP Note fabrication reviews for the and testing cycles, listed by flagging procedure, are shown in Table 2. The data reveal that a total of 17 examinees have failed the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE based on SOAP Note fabrication since NBOME s adoption of the policy in Passing Standards and Examinee Performance Based on The Standards for Educational and Psychological Test - ing, 28 published by the American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education, pass/fail decisions for the two domains of the COMLEX Level 2-PE are reevaluated approximately every 3 years. 29 The NBOME uses a process of triangulation for determining cut points for Level 2-PE, a process that is common in medical testing organizations and highly recommended in high-stakes testing in general. 4,30 This process includes standard-setting surveys, standard-setting panel meetings using an examinee-centered method, and a comprehensive final review. 29,31,32 In examinee-centered methods, samples of actual performance covering the ability continuum of examinees are presented to standard-setting panelists, who provide expert judgments about the demonstration of minimal clinical skills to pass the examination. The standard-setting panels are selected to assure broad representation of the osteopathic medical profession in regard to geographic considerations, age, sex, race, and ethnicity. Panelists are selected to include representation from clinical practice, state medical licensing boards, graduate medical education programs, and COMs. The numbers and percentages of first-time examinees who passed or failed the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE in each testing cycle are shown in Table 3. Of the 16,504 first-time examinees in all testing cycles, 15,604 (94.5%) passed the examination. Of the 2720 first-time examinees in the testing cycle, 2613 (96.1%) passed. The pass rates for first-time examinees in the successive four testing cycles were somewhat less than in the cycle ranging from 93.4% (in ) to 95.3% (in ). Of the 4353 first-time examinees in the most recent testing cycle ( ), 4124 (94.7%) passed COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE. Domain fail rates shown in Table 3 are based on the total number of first-time examinees tested within each testing cycle. For example, 229 (5.3%) of the 4353 examinees in the testing cycle failed the examination. Because passing each domain is required to pass the examination, these examinees could have failed the Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain, Table 2 Results of SOAP Note Fabrication Reviews by Flagging Procedure for the and COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Testing Cycles Psychometric Analysis Physician Examiner Reports Testing Cycle N Flagged, No. Failures, No. Flagged, No. Failures, No * 7 Total Failures, No * New flagging instructions and procedures were given to physician examiners at the beginning of this testing cycle. Abbreviations: COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation; SOAP, Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan. 118 JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March 2010

6 Table 3 Pass and Fail Rates of First-Time Tested on COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE by Testing Cycles, No. (%) Testing Cycle Examination Outcome N=2720 N=2856 N=3099 N=3476 N=4353 Pass, Overall 2613 (96.1) 2722 (95.3) 2896 (93.4) 3249 (93.5) 4124 (94.7) Fail, Overall 107 (3.9) 134 (4.7) 203 (6.6) 227 (6.5) 229 (5.3) Fail, by Domain * Biomedical/biomechanical 83 (3.1) 112 (3.9) 126 (4.1) 83 (2.4) 81 (1.9) Humanistic 20 (0.7) 15 (0.5) 55 (1.8) 121 (3.5) 115 (2.6) Both 4 (0.1) 7 (0.2) 22 (0.7) 23 (0.7) 33 (0.8) *Domain sample size and percentages reflect overall fail percentages within each testing cycle. Abbreviation: COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation. the Humanistic Domain, or both. Results show that 81 (1.9%) of all examinees in failed the Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain, 115 (2.6%) failed the Humanistic Domain, and 33 (0.8%) failed both domains. New standards were introduced in the testing cycle, yielding a technical adjustment to the cut points on each domain. Applying new standards resulted in little change between the overall fail rate for and that for (percentage difference=0.1%). However, adjustment to the cut points under the new standards resulted in a reversal in fail rates for each domain in (Table 3). Fail rates for the Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain in and earlier were consistently higher than those for the Humanistic Domain. Fail rates were estimated for each domain under the new standards, which predicted a lower fail rate for the Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain and a higher fail rate for the Humanistic Domain bringing the fail rates of the two domains closer together. As shown in Figure 4, the overall fail rate for first-time examinees across all testing cycles was 5.4%. For those taking the examination a 25 second time, the fail rate was 12.9%. For those taking the examination for the third time or more, 20 the fail rate was 21.2%. 15 Onsite Surveys On the day of the examination, two onsite surveys are administered to examinees one before and one after the examination. The surveys evaluate examinees previous educational experience with SPs and their perceptions of the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE and testing center. The surveys are given to both first-time and repeat examinees. Examinees Who Failed, % Standardized Patient Survey The standardized patient survey, given to examinees before the examination, includes questions about examinees previous experience with and exposure to SPs. Each examinee must include his or her name on this survey. Questions address the number of SP encounters that the examinees experienced during their osteopathic medical school training and the nature of their COMs comprehensive SP-based examinations. As depicted in Table 4, 2984 (63.5%) examinees in the testing cycle reported that SPs were used at their COMs for nongraded teaching purposes a finding consistent with the rate (63.9%) reported in the testing cycle. More than 94% of examinees in the , , and testing cycles noted that SPs were used at their COMs for teaching purposes. Thus, a noticeable decrease has occurred in the percentages of examinees responding that SPs are used for teaching purposes at COMs. This decrease may reflect a curricular shift in which COMs began using SPs more First take Second take Three or more takes Figure 4. Percentages of examinees who failed the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Level 2-Performance Evaluation (COMLEX-USA Level 2- PE), by number of takes for all five testing cycles ( to ). JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March

7 Table 4 Examinee Responses to Standardized Patient Survey in All COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Testing Cycles, No. (%)* Testing Cycle Survey Item N=2742 N=3005 N=3261 N=3751 N= Are SPs used at your school for teaching purposes? Yes 2600 (94.8) 2891 (96.2) 3144 (96.4) No 129 (4.7) 103 (3.4) 86 (2.6) Are SPs used at your school for non-graded teaching purposes? Yes (63.9) 2984 (63.5) No (30.3) 1151 (24.5) 3. Is performance on SP encounters incorporated into your evaluation/grade? Yes 2092 (76.3) 2377 (79.1) 2688 (82.4) 3136 (83.6) 3626 (77.2) No 624 (22.8) 611 (20.3) 525 (16.1) 404 (10.8) 515 (11.0) 4. Does your school administer its own SP examination? Yes 2343 (85.4) 2622 (87.3) No 373 (13.6) 340 (11.3) Does your school administer its own comprehensive SP examination (ie, an assessment similar to Level 2-PE)? Yes (81.5) 2908 (77.5) 3420 (72.8) No (16.6) 494 (13.2) 514 (10.9) 5A. If yes, are you required to pass in order to graduate? Yes 1642 (59.9) 1761 (58.6) 1819 (55.8) 2278 (60.7) 2705 (57.6) No 766 (27.9) 881 (29.3) 652 (20.0) 659 (17.6) 772 (16.4) 5B. If yes, have you completed this [examination]? Yes (77.2) 2890 (77.0) 3430 (73.0) No (8.9) 222 (5.9) 223 (4.7) * Percentages are based only on examinees who responded and, therefore, may not total 100. Question 1 was rephrased as question 2 as of testing cycle Question 4 was rephrased as question 5 as of testing cycle Abbreviations: COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation; SP, standardized patient;... indicates no data available. for assessment purposes rather than teaching. As shown in Table 5, the median number of school-based SP encounters experienced by examinees during the first year of osteopathic medical school has increased from 3 in the testing cycle to 5 in the testing cycle. A similar trend is seen for the second year of osteopathic medical school, with the median number of SP encounters increasing from 5 in to 8 in A total of 3420 (72.8%) examinees in the testing cycle agreed that their COMs administered comprehensive SP examinations that were similar to [COMLEX-USA] Level 2- PE (Table 4). This percentage represented a decline from the 81.5% who agreed to that statement in , the first testing cycle in which the similar to Level 2-PE wording was used. In the testing cycle, 3430 (73%) examinees responded that they had completed the comprehensive SPbased examination at their respective COMs, and 2705 (57.6%) responded that they were required to pass the examination before graduation. As shown in Table 4, each of these percentages has remained relatively consistent over all testing cycles. Respondents in the testing cycle who noted that their COMs administered comprehensive SP-based exam- 120 JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March 2010

8 Table 5 School-Based Standardized Patient Encounters Experienced by COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Examinees During First 2 Years of Osteopathic Medical School, Median No. Testing Cycle Osteopathic Medical School Year N=2742 N=3005 N=3261 N=3751 N=4698 First Year Second Year Abbreviation: COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation. Table 6 Standardized Patient (SP) Encounters Experienced by COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Examinees in Comprehensive SP-Based Examinations Administered by COMs, Median No. Testing Cycle N=2742 N=3005 N=3261 N=3751 N=4698 Individual SP Encounters Abbreviations: COM, college of osteopathic medicine; COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation. inations reported that they experienced a median number of 5 SP encounters at the COMs. As shown in Table 6, this number and the numbers from the and testing cycles represented decreases in SP encounters at the COMs, compared with the and testing cycles. Postexamination Survey The postexamination survey is an anonymous 22-item survey given immediately after the examination. It is meant to monitor examinee satisfaction with the NBOME s National Center for Clinical Skills Testing and administration of the COMLEX- USA Level 2-PE. For each of the postexamination survey items, examinees are asked to respond using a four-point Likert scale: 1 (strongly disagree), 2 (disagree), 3 (agree), and 4 (strongly agree). Written comments are also solicited from examinees. The postexamination survey data and written comments are used to monitor examinee satisfaction and to make improvements to the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE and testing center. Overall, the responses of the 4698 examinees from the testing cycle were favorable regarding the examination and testing center, as illustrated by a majority of strongly agree or agree re-sponses to survey items (Table 7). As shown in Table 7, 3846 (81.8%) examinees agreed or strongly agreed that the cases represented appropriate challenges for a 4th year student, 3734 (79.4%) examinees agreed or strongly agreed that the [standardized] patients portrayed the case in a believable manner, and 3557 (75.7%) examinees agreed or strongly agreed that the [standardized] patients responses to the physical [examination] were realistic. Survey items that elicited somewhat lower levels of agreement among respondents included those related to the adequacy of the SOAP Note abbreviations list and the sufficiency of the time allotted to complete SOAP Notes and SP encounters. As illustrated in Figure 5, responses to these selected survey items and the item on whether the cases represented appropriate challenges remained fairly consistent across all testing cycles. Responses collected during the testing cycle suggest that the National Center for Clinical Skills Testing and the administration of the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE were favorably received by examinees. In all testing cycles, examinees generally appeared to be satisfied with their testing experiences. Written Feedback Examinees are encouraged to provide written feedback regarding their experiences with the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE. Comments in the surveys analyzed in the present study ranged from congratulatory to persecutory. The following are samples of selected examinee comments from surveys in the testing cycle: [Patients] were very realistic and cases were challenging but not overly difficult or confusing. Proctors were very friendly and helpful. I enjoyed the experience. Test center was incredibly easy to find, lots of places to stay [within] walking distance. Lunch was good too. Thank you! Excellent SPs very believable. I felt like it was a normal rotation. I feel more time should be allotted for the SP and SOAP Note portions since we are to perform OMT on some patients. I feel this time limit makes me feel rushed during note writing and the physical examination. The proctors were very helpful and pleasant to be around. JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March

9 Table 7 Examinee Responses to Post examination Survey in COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE Testing Cycle, No. (%) (N=4698) * Survey Item Strongly Disagree Disagree Agree Strongly Agree 1. The cases represented appropriate challenges for a 4th year student. 23 (0.5) 78 (1.7) 1988 (42.3) 1858 (39.5) 2. The equipment in the exam stations was easy to locate. 28 (0.6) 29 (0.6) 1173 (25.0) 2738 (58.3) 3. The list of abbreviations for the SOAP Note was sufficient. 370 (7.9) 893 (19.0) 1471 (31.3) 1230 (26.2) 4. The designated area provided to write the SOAP Note was comfortable. 53 (1.1) 182 (3.9) 1740 (37.0) 1985 (42.2) 5. The designated area provided to write the SOAP Note was quiet. 30 (0.6) 68 (1.4) 1417 (30.2) 2462 (46.9) 6. The temperature of the test center was comfortable. 39 (0.8) 222 (4.7) 1513 (32.2) 2202 (46.9) 7. The external noise level in the exam rooms was acceptable. 26 (0.6) 66 (1.4) 1455 (31.0) 2424 (51.6) 8. The instructions provided in the orientation were clear. 24 (0.5) 35 (0.7) 1171 (24.9) 2746 (58.4) 9. The orientation provided ample opportunity to ask questions. 31 (0.7) 64 (1.4) 1255 (26.7) 2628 (55.9) 10. The proctors were helpful. 22 (0.5) 27 (0.6) 997 (21.2) 2927 (62.3) 11. The receptionist greeted me in a friendly manner. 73 (1.6) 154 (3.3) 1177 (25.0) 2571 (54.7) 12. The refreshments provided were satisfactory. 61 (1.3) 180 (3.8) 1406 (29.9) 2322 (49.4) 13. It was easy to find my way to the test center in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. 95 (2.0) 290 (6.2) 1572 (33.5) 2024 (43.1) 14. The patients portrayed the case in a believable manner. 33 (0.7) 196 (4.2) 1778 (37.8) 1956 (41.6) 15. Everything the patients reported was consistent with the case. 34 (0.7) 344 (7.3) 2003 (42.6) 1579 (33.6) 16. The patients affect appropriately matched the chief complaint. 42 (0.9) 259 (5.5) 2049 (43.6) 1613 (34.3) 17. The patients responses to the physical exam were realistic. 39 (0.8) 369 (7.9) 2105 (44.8) 1452 (30.9) 18. The patients answered my questions completely. 48 (1.0) 282 (6.0) 2012 (42.8) 1627 (34.6) 19. All equipment provided in the exam room functioned properly. 25 (0.5) 38 (0.8) 1313 (27.9) 2593 (55.2) 20. The doorway information sheet made the task (clinical challenge) clear. 27 (0.6) 83 (1.8) 1639 (34.9) 3962 (47.1) 21. The time allowed to complete the SOAP Note was sufficient. 245 (5.2) 633 (13.5) 1655 (35.2) 1420 (30.2) 22. The time allowed to complete the encounter with the SP was sufficient. 247 (5.3) 667 (14.2) 1747 (37.2) 1298 (27.6) * Percentages are based only on examinees who responded and, therefore, may not total 100%. Abbreviations: COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Level 2-Performance Evaluation; SOAP, Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan; SP, standardized patient. 122 JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March 2010

10 Examinees Mean Responses The cases represented appropriate challenges for a 4th year student The list of abbreviations for the SOAP Note was sufficient The time allowed to complete the SOAP Note was sufficient The time allowed to complete the encounter with the SP was sufficient Survey Item Figure 5. Examinee responses to selected postexamination survey items, by Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Level 2-Performance Evaluation (COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE) testing cycle. Examinee responses: 1 (strongly disagree), 2 (disagree), 3 (agree), 4 (strongly agree). Abbreviation: SP, standardized patient. I think that the use of OMT should not be a requirement but instead an additional way for students to gain points. I did not have any 3rd or 4th year rotations in which it was actually used so I felt ill prepared. Thank you, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and realize what I can do better. This has given me more confidence in seeing and treating patients. Please thank the SPs for their time and participation. The proctors were so helpful and friendly that it felt almost like being in a real clinic. In other words, no high stress of being watched and monitored. Makes a big difference when stress level is not too overwhelming. Thank you! Such written comments, which are reviewed regularly by the NBOME, have led to improvements in the administration of the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, including adjusting directions posted on the Web site, adding a list of hotel accommodations in the testing area, and streamlining the registration process. Examinees comments have also triggered in-depth reviews and analyses of various operational issues, such as the use of electronic medical records for data entry and the use of alternative testing sites. Comment Passing standards and passing rates have remained relatively stable over all five testing cycles for the COMLEX-USA Level 2- PE. The introduction of adjusted standards for the testing cycle resulted in the fail rates for each of the domains becoming closer in magnitude with the proportion of examinees failing the Humanistic Domain increasing slightly while the overall fail rate remained stable. This outcome was predicted under the NBOME policy with application of the new standards. Beginning in the testing cycle, the NBOME formally began evaluating SOAP Notes about patient encounters for accuracy and integrity. 27 We can only speculate why examinees include clinical findings on SOAP Notes that are not elicited or obtained during patient encounters. Examinees intent or motivation cannot be determined with the current evaluation processes. Nevertheless, a note containing inaccurate information that was not elicited during a patient encounter may lead to dangerous outcomes for the patient. Thus, consistent with its mission to protect the public, the NBOME has taken a strong stance against SOAP Note fabrication and inaccurate documentation. Examinees overwhelmingly reported that cases presented in the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE were realistic and represented an appropriate level of challenge for fourth-year osteopathic medical students (Table 7). This finding was consistent with previous findings. 2 However, in contrast to previous reports and pilot studies indicating that 14 minutes is sufficient for a patient-physician encounter, 2, % of examinees in the present study disagreed or strongly disagreed that sufficient time was allotted for this aspect of the examination. Despite these survey results, examinees spend an average of 12.1 minutes with SPs during each clinical encounter for COMLEX-USA JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March

11 Level 2-PE well below the 14 minutes allotted for the encounter. 33 A minority of examinees in the present study also reported insufficient time for completing SOAP Notes about the encounters (Table 7). In a COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE prototype pilot study, 2 7 minutes was shown to be sufficient for SOAP note completion well below the 9 minutes allotted for examinees to complete SOAP Notes. A minority of examinees in the present study reported that the list of common abbreviations to use with SOAP Notes was inadequate (Table 7). Rather than publishing a comprehensive list of acceptable medical abbreviations, which would be impractical, The Joint Commission in compliance with National Patient Safety Goal Requirement 2B has published a list of abbreviations that are not to be used for medical documentation. 34 Consistent with this recommendation, the NBOME advises examinees to avoid abbreviations on SOAP Notes that might lead to medical error, and the list provided to examinees is meant as a guide for commonly used abbreviations. Between the and testing cycles, examinees reported increases in the median number of SP encounters in both the first and second years of osteopathic medical school (Table 5). This increase implies that osteopathic medical students are being exposed to a greater number of SP encounters. Yet, because the reported number of SPs used for teaching purposes has decreased (Table 4), this pattern may represent a shift in using SPs for summative, rather than formative, assessments at individual COMs. Although SPs were predominantly used for teaching clinical skills several years ago, 7 results of the present study are consistent with recent reports that COMs are now using SPs more for assessment rather than teaching. 13 Addressing this shift in SP use more thoroughly requires a more detailed investigation of current COM-based SP-based programs. Examinees reported a reduction in the median number of encounters used in comprehensive SP examinations at COMs (8 in vs 5 in ), as shown in Table 6. As a measure of reliability, generalizability coefficients decrease substantially when examinations include fewer than 10 encounters. 25,35 The selected number of encounters per student may depend on SP availability, class size, and examination administration costs, as well as the level of reliability that individual COMs are willing to accept for such an examination. The present study recorded a decrease over time in the number of examinees who reported that their COMs administered comprehensive SP examinations (85.4% in vs 72.8% in ), as shown in Table 4. Although this trend might be explained by a genuine reduction in the use of comprehensive SP examinations at COMs, it is more likely explained by COMs consolidating resources and outsourcing such examinations to their affiliated branch campuses. Alternatively, the trend could be the result of student misinterpretation of the survey item or misunderstanding of the schoolsponsored SP experiences. A formal analysis of this trend would require a detailed survey to be administered directly to the COMs. Hauer et al 36 demonstrated that allopathic medical schools have designed new school-based examinations or modified existing examinations to simulate the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Skills. Gimpel et al 13 reported that the use of standardized patient programs and mechanical simulators within osteopathic medical schools increased between 2001 and Data from the present study support the finding that SPs are being used by COMs for both teaching and evaluative purposes. A more detailed schoolbased analysis would provide additional insight regarding how clinical skills teaching curricula are designed and how SPs are used for formative and summative assessments. Conclusion For the first five testing cycles, examinee performance has been relatively consistent, and examinees have reported general satisfaction with administration and assessment methodologies of the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE. As the osteopathic medical profession continues to grow, the NBOME looks forward to administering examinations for many years to come. These examinations will allow the NBOME to meet its mission of protecting the public by providing the means to assess competencies for osteopathic medicine and related healthcare professions. Acknowledgment We thank Taunya Cossetti, executive assistant for the NBOME, for her assistance in reviewing and editing the information provided in the present report. References 1. Harden RM, Stevenson M, Downie WW, Wilson GM. Assessment of clinical competence using objective structured examination. Br Med J. 1975; 1(5955): /?tool=pubmed. Accessed December 3, Gimpel JR, Boulet JR, Errichetti AM. Evaluating the clinical skills of osteopathic medical students. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2003;103(6): Accessed December 3, Swanson DB, Norman GR, Linn RL. Performance-based assessment: lessons from the health professions. Educ Res. 1995;24(5): Boulet JR, Smee SM, Dillon GF, Gimpel JR. The use of standardized patient assessments for certification and licensure decisions. Simul Healthc. 2009;4(1): Adamo G. Simulated and standardized patients in OSCEs: achievements and challenges Med Teach. 2003;25(3): Boulet JR, De Champlain AF, McKinley DW. Setting defensible performance standards on OSCEs and standardized patient examinations. Med Teach. 2003;25(3): Errichetti AM, Gimpel JR, Boulet JR. State of the art in standardized patient programs: a survey of osteopathic medical schools. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2002;102(11): Accessed December 3, National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. Bulletin of Informa- 124 JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March 2010

12 tion Chicago, IL: National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners; Accessed July 15, AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. Accreditation of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: COM Accreditation Standards and Procedures. Chicago, IL: American Osteopathic Association; Accessed December 21, Brazeau C, Boyd L, Crosson J. Changing an existing OSCE to a teaching tool: the making of a teaching OSCE. Acad Med. 2002;77(9): Barrows HS. An overview of the uses of standardized patients for teaching and evaluating clinical skills. AAMC [review]. Acad Med. 1993;68(6): Townsend AH, McLlvenny S, Miller CJ, Dunn EV. The use of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) for formative and summative assessment in a general practice clinical attachment and its relationship to final medical school examination performance. Med Educ. 2001;35(9): Gimpel JR, Weidner AC, Boulet JR, Wilson CD, Errichetti AM. 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Appl Psychol Meas. 2000;24(4): Sandella JM, Roberts WL, Wilson CD. The relationship between time spent in the encounter and student performance in a high-stakes standardized patient assessment. Poster presented at: Meeting of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare; January 2009; Lake Buena Vista, FL. 34. The official do not use list of abbreviations; April 1, The Joint Commission Web site. UseList/. Accessed December 21, Margolis MJ, Clauser BE, Swanson DB, Boulet JR. Analysis of the relationship between score components on a standardized patient clinical skills examination. Acad Med. 2003;78(10 suppl):s68-s Hauer KE, Teherani A, Kerr KM, O Sullivan PS, Irby DM. Impact of the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Skills exam on medical school clinical skills assessment. Acad Med. 2006;81(10 suppl):s13-s16. JAOA Vol 110 No 3 March