Orthopedic In-Training Examination: An Analysis of the Sports Medicine Section-An Update.

OBJECTIVE: Previously published studies have evaluated Orthopedic In-Training Examination sports medicine questions, but none have evaluated whether question difficulty has changed over time.

DESIGN: Sports medicine subsection questions between 2012 and 2016 were evaluated and compared with previously published data on Orthopedic In-Training Examination from 2004 to 2009. Question categories were classified into 1 of 3 taxonomy levels-basic recall, diagnosis, and advanced problem solving.

SETTING: Medical University of South Carolina; Charleston, SC, 29425; Institution.

PARTICIPANTS: Two residents evaluated the Sports Subsection questions separately. Then an attending physician evaluated the questions to resolve discrepancies. A statistician was used for analysis.

RESULTS: Utilization of imaging modalities averaged 37%, with 28% (11/39) of the questions containing 2 or more imaging modalities. There were increases in utilization of advanced problem-solving questions (45% vs. 27%, p = 0.002) and decreases in basic recall questions (49% vs. 67%, p = 0.008) compared with previously published data.

CONCLUSIONS: While the percentage of the Orthopedic In-Training Examination represented by sports medicine has remained relatively unchanged, there were fewer questions requiring residents to demonstrate simple recall and diagnosis, and increased demand to perform advanced problem solving while utilizing multiple imaging modalities.