How current are topics tested on USMLE exams? (screening guidelines, etc.)

[medsurg2010]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone knows an answer as to how current the information is on Step 2 ck? For example, I am taking the test in 1 month, and if the new breast CA screening guidelines are accepted, will they be reflected in the "routine health screening" questions?

This applies to more topics such as no ventilation during CPR in the field according to the AHA that was adopted a couple of years ago.. Would that be updated in the questions? Also, the new antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines for endocarditis after dental procedures that was adopted recently?

Should we assume a lag time in updates of information of 1 week? 1 month? 3 years? 4 years?

Thanks for the answers in advance.

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[medsurg2010]

35 views, no answer.

I contacted the NBME about this and had no luck by phone. I was advised to send an email. I will post the response I receive regarding this question.

Cheers.

 

[tfom08]

35 views, no answer.

I contacted the NBME about this and had no luck by phone. I was advised to send an email. I will post the response I receive regarding this question.

Cheers.

This is not really a question that will affect your score, to be honest. Not saying it doesn't matter, but do not worry too much about it. It is unlikely that a guideline that was just changed 1 month ago will be tested on an exam. As a general rule, topics that are controversial (those topics in UW in which there are conflicting answers to similar questions) are not asked on step 2 ck.

Here's what I would say regarding your question (coming from someone who did well on step 2 ck but otherwise has no inside knowledge): if a guideline is newly updated, there is unlikely to be a question in which the new guideline is in the answer (because they probably didn't write a question as soon as the guideline changed and already got it into the pool of questions). However, if there was a question in which the outdated guideline was tested, that question will be deleted immediately so it won't be asked either.

I remember 0 questions that tested newly amended guidelines. But in general, there aren't a whole lot of questions about guidelines anyway except the truly basic stuff that hasn't changed in a long time.

 

[medsurg2010]

So I sent an email to the NBME regarding my aforementioned question.

And this is the very prompt and friendly response I received. 👍:

Thank you for your email. As you may know, our exam material is developed by committee members who are medical educators and clinicians in practice. It is their job to ensure that the material that they feel is important to the provision of safe and effective patient care is included. All of our test material is periodically reviewed for accuracy to make sure the test forms follow the approved content outline and current medical practices.

Regarding the particular example you raised of mammography screening, it is too early to tell whether the recommendations of the task force will be accepted by clinical societies. In instances such as these, where medical practice is may change, we will monitor content in this area more frequently and revise or remove items if needed.

We hope this information is helpful to you.


DISCLOSURE: This is not an official NBME statement. To obtain an official statement you must contact NBME yourself. Do not make life-changing or career-altering decisions based upon this information. It may have been altered by a third party or even an alien. MedSurg is not liable if anything bad happens to you because of your newly found knowledge of this information.


So basically it sounds like it would be prudent to go with the most up-to-date information from the various societies (ACOG, ACP, etc) as they most likely update the exam content to reflect recent changes in policies of academic societies.

 

[FreakofMeds]

This is not really a question that will affect your score, to be honest. Not saying it doesn't matter, but do not worry too much about it. It is unlikely that a guideline that was just changed 1 month ago will be tested on an exam. As a general rule, topics that are controversial (those topics in UW in which there are conflicting answers to similar questions) are not asked on step 2 ck.

Here's what I would say regarding your question (coming from someone who did well on step 2 ck but otherwise has no inside knowledge): if a guideline is newly updated, there is unlikely to be a question in which the new guideline is in the answer (because they probably didn't write a question as soon as the guideline changed and already got it into the pool of questions). However, if there was a question in which the outdated guideline was tested, that question will be deleted immediately so it won't be asked either.

I remember 0 questions that tested newly amended guidelines. But in general, there aren't a whole lot of questions about guidelines anyway except the truly basic stuff that hasn't changed in a long time.

That is the real answer that NBME could not give you.