HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Slocum, P. C. Articles by Louder, J. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Slocum, P. C. Articles by Louder, J. S.

From the Kirksville (Mo) College of Osteopathic Medicine of A.T. Still University of Health Sciences.

Address correspondence to Philip C. Slocum, DO, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine of A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, 800 W Jefferson St, Kirksville, MO 63501–1443. E-mail: pslocum{at}kcom.edu

Context: Graduates of colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) frequently apply to residency training programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. However, students who have taken the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) rather than the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) may encounter a selection bias when applying to allopathic residency programs.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between scores on COMLEX-USA and USMLE by COM students who took both examinations.

Methods: Scores were analyzed from a cohort of COM students who took COMLEX-USA Level 1 and USMLE Step 1 and a cohort of students who, during the same time, took COMLEX-USA Level 2 and USMLE Step 2.

Results: At the Kirksville (Mo) College of Osteopathic Medicine of A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, 155 students took both COMLEX-USA Level 1 and USMLE Step 1 and another cohort of 56 students took COMLEX-USA Level 2 and USMLE Step 2. The Pearson product moment correlation of the scores from COMLEX-USA Level 1 and USMLE Step 1 was 0.83 (P<.001) and for COMLEX-USA Level 2 and USMLE Step 2 was 0.70 (P<.001). Scores on USMLE are predicted by the corresponding COMLEX-USA scores using the equations USMLE Step 1 = 67.97 + 0.24 x COMLEX-USA Level 1 (R²=0.68); and USMLE Step 2 = 102.2 + 0.18 x COMLEX-USA Level 2 (R²=0.46).

Conclusion: A method of estimating USMLE scores from COMLEX-USA scores is provided for residency directors of institutions accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for the evaluation of COM applicants.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. C. Slocum Response J Am Osteopath Assoc, June 1, 2007; 107(6): 213 - 214. [Full Text] [PDF]