OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to determine whether the Family In-Service Training Examination (FITE) and the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) scores are predictive of Specialty Board Exam success, and whether the time elapsed between graduation and taking the Specialty Board Exam affects the outcomes.

METHODS

A descriptive-correlational retrospective study was conducted using chi-square analysis. Data were collected from 35 former Family Medicine residents, who have taken the Specialty Board Exam, via a validated online questionnaire, with data collected from February to March 2025.

RESULTS

Results showed that OSCE scores were the strongest predictor of Specialty Board Exam success. FITE scores also correlated with the exam results to a lesser degree. Notably, there was no significant association between the time from graduation to taking the exams, and exam results suggested that timing does not critically influence success.

CONCLUSION

It can then be concluded that OSCE has a greater predictive validity as compared to FITE in assessing readiness and performance in the Specialty Board Exams.

Human ; Specialty Boards

BACKGROUND: During a monthly morbidity and mortality report in family medicine it was noted that one of the most frequent illness encountered was sore throat or acute pharyngitis. It accounted among the top five most common comorbidities in out-patient consults and emergency room admissions in 2015-2016.
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in Chong Hua Hospital to evaluate if a sore throat scoring system such as the McIsaac Decision Rule was valid in detecting group A beta hemolytic streptococcus pharyngitis and was reliable as a clinical approach in managing sore throat.
DESIGN: A prospective, descriptive survey was done among patients who consulted and eventually admitted at the emergency room and OPD under the family medicine department at Chong Hua Hospital Cebu City.
METHODS: A total of 23 patients; children and adults who presented with sore throat were assessed. A data extraction form utilizing criteria from the McIsaac clinical rule known as "Sore Throat Encounter Form" was used for each patient encounter. The following criteria were accounted; fever >38°C, swollen, tender anterior cervical lymph nodes, tonsillar exudate and absence of cough. A corresponding point was assigned based on the patient's age. Points are summed up and used as basis of management; patients presenting with a score of -1 and 0 could be managed without antibiotic treatment and no throat culture is required. For scores of 1-3 throat culture is indicated and positive results should be treated. For 4-5 scores on an empiric antibiotic treatment should be initiated without the need of throat culture. A throat swab for culture was obtained as a reference standard. In addition, physicians' prescribing practices and their recommendations for obtaining throat swabs were compared with score-based recommendations.
RESULTS: Categorical data were expressed in frequency and percentages. McIsaac clinical decision rule assessment results and findings of gold standards were tested for association using 2x2 Fisher's exact test wherein the p-value lesser than 0.05 alpha was considered significant. Accuracy of McIsaac clinical decision rule assessment was computed using sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio positive, negative, and positive predictive values.
CONCLUSION: The McIsaac Clinical Decision Rule has demonstrated clinically acceptable diagnostic accuracy in predicting streptococcus pharyngitis. Thus, it can be a reliable and valid risk assessment tool to predict and rule out Group A Beta Hemolytic Streptococcus Pharyngitis.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Comorbidity ; Cough ; Outpatients ; Anti-bacterial Agents ; Pharynx ; Pharyngitis ; Fever ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Scarlet Fever ; Streptococcus ; Lymph Nodes