Abstract
Purpose
The European Board of Paediatric Surgery (EBPS) includes a written Part 1 and an oral/practical Part 2 component. The goal of this study was to describe the EBPS examination candidate pool, and to determine factors associated with successfully passing the examination.
Methods
A database including all registered candidates for the EBPS exams since 2005 was constructed. Queried information included demographics, training location, language proficiency, and written/oral scores. Logistic regression analysis was performed to elucidate variables predictive of examination success.
Results
Until 2013, a total of 370 candidates registered for the part 1 examination and 147 successfully passed part 2. Pass rates for part 1 were 68, 65, 20, and 0 % on first, second, third, and forth attempts, respectively. Pass rates for part 2 were 79 % for both first and second attempts. Training in a single country was associated with passing Part 1 (p = 0.048), while having completed at least some training in an English-speaking country increased the chance of passing Part 2 (p < 0.01).
Conclusion
The pool of EBPS examination candidates is highly diverse and international. First- and second-attempt pass rates are similar for both parts. Candidates who completed all their training in non-English-speaking countries may wish to consider additional English language practice to increase their chances of success.
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Muensterer, O.J., Bronstein, M.E., Mackenzie, R. et al. Factors associated with passing the European Board of Paediatric Surgery Exam. Pediatr Surg Int 31, 671–676 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-015-3719-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-015-3719-7