An Exploration of Registered Dietitian Accreditation System Development in China

Background: To review the highlights of the registered dietitian accreditation system in China, including history, organization, regulatory policies, certification requirements, development, and performance on the certification examination, registration, and continuing education, the process for the accreditation system development was focused. The data from the certification examinations and registrations were collected and analyzed. The eligibility requirements, as well as practice pathways, were discussed. Lessons learned from the development of the registered dietitian accreditation system, opportunities, challenges, and future directions for the field were discussed. There remain needs for well-established degree programs and a professional organization’s maintenance with endeavouring in job opportunities, as well as legislative concerns.

Mayo Clinic Neurology Board Review

Neurology is an exciting and rapidly expanding area of medicine. This new edition of Mayo Clinic Neurology Board Review is designed to assist both physicians-in-training who are preparing for the initial American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) certification examination and neurologists who are preparing for recertification. Trainees and other physicians in related specialties such as psychiatry, neurosurgery, or physiatry may also find this book useful in preparation for their own certification examinations. While erring on the side of thoroughness, Mayo Clinic Neurology Board Review, Second Edition, is not intended to replace an in-depth textbook or serve as a guide to the most current therapies. Instead, this book provides a core of essential knowledge of both basic and clinical aspects of neurology. The emphasis is on clinical knowledge related to diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to patient management. In addition, this text has an expansive array of illustrations, pathology, and radiologic images. There are different needs for those who are taking the initial board examination and for those who are recertifying. The first section covers basic sciences and psychiatry, and the remaining portion covers clinical neurology. It is intended that people taking the board examination for the first time would benefit from reviewing all chapters, whereas those recertifying may wish to mainly focus on the clinical section. Throughout the book, high-yield facts and questions have been included for your review.

Novel Formative Approach of the ESAP-ITE Provides Strong Predictive Value for ABIM Certification Outcomes

Background The Endocrine Self-Assessment Program In-Training Examination (ESAP-ITE) has the novel formative approach of allowing open access to all questions and answers after secure exam administration is complete, resulting in the creation of an entirely new in-training examination annually. Objective To determine whether scores on the novel ESAP-ITE predict pass/fail outcomes on the American Board of Internal Medicine-Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Certification Examination (ABIM-ECE). Methods All endocrine fellows-in-training who took the ESAP-ITE between 2016 and 2019 and then subsequently attempted the ABIM-ECE within the same calendar year were included (n=982). Primary analyses utilized the ESAP-ITE score from the final year of fellowship training. Covariates included sex, age on date of ABIM-ECE, medical school country, fellowship program region, pass/fail outcomes on the ABIM Internal Medicine Certification Examination, and ESAP-ITE score. All variables were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Results ESAP-ITE score (p<0.001), ABIM Internal Medicine Certification Examination outcome (p<0.001), and age (p=0.005) were each significant predictors of passing the ABIM-ECE on the first attempt. ESAP-ITE score was the strongest predictor of passing the ABIM-ECE, and this relationship was such that a score of 75% correct yielded a 97% probability of passing the ABIM-ECE, whereas a score of 50% correct generated only a 70% probability of doing so. Sex, fellowship program region, and medical school country were not significant predictors of ABIM-ECE outcomes. Conclusions In addition to serving as an important learning instrument for endocrine fellowship programs, ESAP-ITE is a robust predictive tool for pass/fail outcomes on the ABIM-ECE.

Smile Attractiveness Evaluation of Patients Selected for a U.S.-Based Board Certification Examination

Objectives The aims of the study were to assess smile attractiveness of a collection of 68 smiling photographs of successfully treated cases submitted to the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) clinical examination and identify variables that influence the assessment. Materials and Methods A panel of 81 non-Caucasian assessors from various clinical disciplines were instructed to score the smile attractiveness on a visual analog scale from 1 (least attractive) to 10 (most attractive) and to select which components contributed to a lesser attractive smile. The mean, standard deviations (SDs), and quartiles of the smile attractiveness were obtained with descriptive statistics. Multilinear regression analysis was performed to investigate the scores of the perceived quality of smile attractiveness when the clinical disciplines and gender of the assessors were the factors taken into consideration. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to establish the relationship between smile attractiveness and the achievement of a perfect smile. Results The mean (SD) rating of each clinical photograph of the anterior occlusion on smiling ranged from 3.11 (1.47) as the least attractive smile to 7.59 (1.45) as the most attractive smile. The overall mean (SD) score for smile attractiveness was 5.30 (1.10). Problems associated with teeth, gingiva, and lips corresponded with a reduction of the smile attractiveness score by 1.56, 1.82, and 1.47, respectively. Gender was not associated with smile attractiveness ratings. Orthodontists, periodontists, and prosthodontists demonstrated no difference in the ratings, while plastic surgeons were more critical than orthodontists regarding smile attractiveness. Conclusions The study suggested that only 2 out of 68 AOB validated treatment finishes had a perfect and attractive smile.

Academic Achievement, Professionalism, and Burnout in Family Medicine Residents

Background and Objectives: Physician burnout has been shown to have roots in training environments. Whether burnout in residency is associated with the attainment of critical educational milestones has not been studied, and is the subject of this investigation. Methods: We used data from a cohort of graduating family medicine residents registering for the 2019 American Board of Family Medicine initial certification examination with complete data from registration questionnaire, milestone data, in-training examination (ITE) scores, and residency characteristics. We used bivariate and multilevel multivariate analyses to measure the associations between four professionalism milestones ratings and ITE performance with burnout. Results: Our sample included 2,509 residents; 36.8% met the criteria for burnout. Multilevel regression modeling showed a correlation between burnout and failure to meet only one of four professionalism milestones, specifically professional conduct and accountability (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.07-1.87), while no statistically significant relationship was demonstrated between burnout and being in the lowest quartile of ITE scores. Other factors negatively associated with burnout included international medical education (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.48-0.76) and higher salary compared to cost of housing (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.46-0.82). Conclusions: We found significant association between self-reported burnout and failing to meet expectations for professional conduct and accountability, but no relationship between burnout and medical knowledge as measured by lower ITE performance. Further investigation of how this impacts downstream conduct and accountability behaviors is needed, but educators can use this information to examine program-level interventions that can specifically address burnout and development of physician professionalism.