Cross-Sectional Analysis of Foot and Ankle Questions on the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination: A Guide for Resident Preparation

Abstract

Background: The Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) is a standardized examination administered annually to orthopaedic surgery residents. The examination is designed to evaluate resident knowledge and academic performance of residency programs. Methods: All OITE foot and ankle questions from 2009 through 2012 and 2017 through 2020 were analyzed. Subtopics, taxonomy, references, and use of imaging modalities were recorded. Results: There were a total of 167 foot and ankle (F&A)–related questions across 8 years of OITE examinations. Trauma remained the most commonly tested subtopic of F&A across both subsets, followed by rehabilitation, tendon disorders, and arthritis. We found an increase in questions related to arthritis ( P = .05) and a decrease of questions related to the diabetic foot ( P = .02). Taxonomy 3 questions constituted 49.5% of F&A questions from 2009 through 2012 compared with 44.7% of questions from 2017 to 2020 ( P = .54). Radiography was the most commonly used imaging modality in both subsets. From 2009 to 2012, 63.6% of questions included a radiograph compared with 76.5% in 2017 through 2020 ( P = .13). FAI ( Foot & Ankle International), JAAOS ( Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons), and JBJS ( The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery) were the most commonly cited journals, making up more than 50% of total citations. Citations per question increased from 2.20 to 2.42 from 2009-2012 to 2017-2020 ( P = .01). The average lag time in the early subset was 8.2 years and 8.9 years in the later subset. Conclusion: This study provides a detailed analysis of the F&A section of the OITE. Use of this analysis can provide residents with a guide on how to better prepare for the OITE examination. Level of Evidence: Level IV, cross-sectional review of Orthopaedic In-Training Examination questions

Update on Educational Resources and Evaluation Tools for Orthopaedic Surgery Residents

“…Because of this emphasis, trends in recent examination questions have been investigated to aid in preparation for the annual examination. 17,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Although several studies have shown a correlation between OITE performance and passing the Part I Certifying Exam, the validity of the OITE as a predictive measure for success on the Certifying Exam has been questioned because the two examinations have been written by separate organizations without a common blueprint. [27][28][29][30][31] A linking study found that on the 2021 AAOS OITE, the minimum OITE score that corresponded to passing the Part I Certifying Exam was 69.2%, but this was noted to be applicable to the 2021 OITE examination only.…”