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The ABSITE:a comprehensive narrative review

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Global Surgical Education - Journal of the Association for Surgical Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) has been administered to all surgical residents across the United States annually since 1975. The purpose of this review was to summarize the available literature regarding the ABSITE and its role in residency training and beyond.

Methods

A search of the primary literature used keywords of “ABSITE” and “American Board of Surgery In-Service Training Exam” to select articles written between 1980 and 2023. Articles reviewed were categorized by the folloing type (cohort, case review, etc.) and theme: utility of the ABSITE to programs, predicting ABSITE performance, and improving ABSITE performance.

Results

We reviewed 169 articles in which the ABSITE or American Board of Surgery In-Training Exam were studied. Over 60% of those studies were performed at a single institution. Structured curricula, remediation, and completing a higher number of practice questions improved ABSITE scores. Fellowship and residency program directors use ABSITE to stratify applicants despite studies demonstrating a lack of correlation between clinical skill and ABSITE score. A strong predictor of ABSITE scores was previous standardized examination performance. Higher ABSITE scores were associated with higher first time pass rates of the American Board of Surgery qualifying exam but did not consistently correlate with the results of the certifying exam.

Conclusions

While designated to evaluate a resident’s knowledge, the ABSITE performs even more roles. It is used to compare residents, identify residents with limited medical knowledge at-risk for failing board examinations, and highlight areas for academic improvement, but does not represent a resident as a whole.

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Data availability

The datasets analyzed in this study are all publicly available in pubmed, www.pubmed.gov.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S Greene Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    John J. Newland, David Morales, Hossam Abdou & Joseph El Badaoui

  2. Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Lindsay K. Hessler

  3. University of Maryland School of Medicine, 29 South Greene Street, GS 631, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Stephen M. Kavic

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Newland, J.J., Morales, D., Abdou, H. et al. The ABSITE:a comprehensive narrative review. Global Surg Educ 2, 74 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44186-023-00151-3

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