A training course for the Israeli phase I written board examination in internal medicine increases the success rate of foreign graduate physicians

Background: Foreign graduate residents in internal medicine perform poorly on the Israeli phase I written board examination as compared to local graduates from Israeli medical schools. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a preparatory course, aimed at foreign graduates, on their success rate in the Israeli phase I written board examination in internal medicine. Methods: The preparatory course consisted of seven 4-h weekly meetings that took place 3 months before the board examination. Participants were divided into two classes, each containing approximately 35 residents. Each meeting was dedicated to two fields of internal medicine and consisted of a multiple-choice examination, followed by a guided discussion with a senior physician. A pre-test was given at the end of the course and its results were compared to those of the official examination. Residents who took the official examination but who did not participate in the course served as controls. Results: The combined 2-year (1999-2000) success rate on the official phase I board examination of foreign graduates who took the course was significantly higher than that of controls: 41.7% vs. 30.4%, respectively (p < 0.019). The results of the course pre-test were highly predictive of the success on the board examination (r = 0.481, p < 0.01). The course did not significantly improve the success rate of the Israeli graduates. Conclusion: A short, focused, preparatory course significantly increases the success rate of foreign graduate residents on the Israeli phase I written board examination in internal medicine. Performance in the course is highly predictive of the success rate on the official board examination.