Identifying and Addressing Item Bias in the General Pediatrics Certifying Examination.

This article describes a 2-phase process implemented by the American Board of Pediatrics in 2021 to investigate and remove potential bias on its General Pediatrics Certifying Examination at the item (question) level based on gender or race and ethnicity. Phase 1 used a statistical technique known as differential item functioning (DIF) analysis to identify items in which 1 subgroup of the population outperformed another subgroup after controlling for overall knowledge level. Phase 2 involved a review of items flagged for statistical DIF by the American Board of Pediatrics' Bias and Sensitivity Review (BSR) panel, a diverse group of 12 voluntary subject matter experts tasked with identifying language or other characteristics of those items that may have contributed to the observed performance differences.

Voluntarily Postponing Testing Is Associated with Lower Performance on the Pediatric Board Certifying Examinations.

Objective: To investigate whether postponing certification testing, either voluntarily or involuntarily, affects a candidate's performance on pediatric certifying examinations.

Study Design: Both general pediatrics (GP) and pediatric subspecialty (PS) examination candidates were included in the study. Candidates were classified into 3 groups based on time since the completion of training: no delay (<12 months), short delay (12-24 months), and long delay (≥24 months).

Jobs and Career Plans of New Pediatric Subspecialists.

Objectives: The issues of importance in selecting a first job for new pediatric subspecialists, and their ability to find positions that match their professional and clinical goals, are unknown. The objectives were to (1) describe current employment patterns, practice characteristics, factors influencing choice of first position, and future work goals of new pediatric subspecialists; and (2) examine the relationship of these variables with the actual professional time allocation and clinical responsibilities compared with the desired first job.

Methods: The authors surveyed 3010 individuals sitting for ≥1 of the 14 subspecialty certification exams.

Long-term Plans for Those Selecting Hospital Medicine as an Initial Career Choice.

Background: The proportion of the newly graduated pediatric workforce that becomes hospitalists has been increasing slightly over the past decade. However, it is unknown what proportion of those who accept hospitalist positions as their first job intend to remain in the field longer term. This is important to workforce projections regarding the magnitude of those who will function in this role.

New pediatricians: first jobs and future workplace goals.

Background And Objectives: Concern is often expressed about the satisfaction of new physicians and the potential match of their workplace goals with available positions. We studied the interface of desired professional activities with actual initial positions.

Methods: Survey study of all general pediatricians taking the 2012 General Pediatrics Certifying Examination.

Longitudinal assessment of the timing of career choice among pediatric residents.

Objective: To determine the timing of and key factors in resident decision making to pursue either a career in general pediatrics or subspecialty training.

Design: We used a 10-item fixed-choice questionnaire that focused on exploring how and when pediatric residents make career choices.

Setting: The survey was administered to all categorical pediatric residents in the United States and Canada as part of the General Pediatrics In-Training Examination in 2007 and 2009.

The in-training examination: an analysis of its predictive value on performance on the general pediatrics certification examination.

Objective: This study investigates the predictive validity of the In-Training Examination (ITE). Although studies have confirmed the predictive validity of ITEs in other medical specialties, no study has been done for general pediatrics.

Study Design: Each year, residents in accredited pediatric training programs take the ITE as a self-assessment instrument.

Characteristics of general and subspecialty pediatricians who choose not to recertify.

Objective: The goal was to determine the reasons given for nonparticipation in maintenance of certification by general pediatricians and pediatric subspecialists whose board certification had expired.

Methods: All United States-based pediatricians whose board certification had expired and who had not recertified as a generalist or subspecialist in 2004 or 2005 were surveyed. The total sample included 1001 pediatric generalists and 1237 subspecialists.