The Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (ITE) is administered during residency training in the United States as a self-assessment
and program assessment tool. Performance on this exam correlates with outcome on the American Board of Internal Medicine Certifying
examination. Internal Medicine Program Directors use the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) to make decisions
in recruitment of potential applicants. This study was done to determine a correlation of USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3 results with
ITE scores in each level of Internal Medicine training. A retrospective review of all residents graduating from an Internal
Medicine program from 1999 to 2006 was done. Subjects included had data for all USMLE Steps and ITE during all years of training.
Thirty-one subjects were included in the study. Correlations of USMLE Steps 1, 2 and 3 were done with ITE scores (percent
correct) in each year of training. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (
r) was determined for each pairing and a
t test to determine statistical significance of the correlation was done. Statistical significance was defined as
P value <0.05. The
r values for USMLE Step 1 and ITE percent correct in PGY I, II and III were 0.46, 0.55 and 0.51 respectively. Corresponding
r values for USMLE Step 2 and ITE percent correct were 0.79, 0.70 and 0.72; for USMLE Step 3 these values were 0.51, 0.37 and
0.51 respectively for each training year. USMLE scores are correlated with ITE scores. This correlation was strongest for
USMLE Step 2.
Keywords USMLE - Internal medicine - In-training examination - Residency