USMLE WORLD lacking?

[Babycatcher2B]

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Does anybody else feel like USMLE World doesn't give enough information to make certain diagnosis??? Is it just me? Sometimes it seems that they are stingy with certain lab data when it is important in the diagnosis and generous in giving a whole bunch of normal labs, that are just extra and don't really help. It seems that Step 2 CK wouldn't do things like that? Anybody feeling the same way. I know that we have to be smart enough to figure out some of this stuff with little information, but it seems like some of these questions are like WTF!!!

 

[rayofdiana]

I agree. And there are times when the explanation will say something like, "Because the BUN/Cr ratio is greater than 20, you know that...." when, in fact, the BUN/Cr ratio is 12. Which is why I didn't pick the "right" answer. Arrgh...

For what it's worth, after arguing with USMLEWorld for the last few weeks and doing well but sometimes not as well as I thought I should be (in part due to my ignorance but in part due to these errors), I took the NBME Form 2 and rocked it. They seemed more consistent. I hope that's reflective of the actual test as well.

 

[Babycatcher2B]

And to continue in my manner of rage. I hate seeing questions in which <20% of people get correct. Those kind of questions should be thrown out or altered to make better questions. I just got a question 9% of people got correct. Last update: 2005!!!!

 

[ranmyaku]

It feels real good though when you get one of those 9% ones right though. I got one today about peritoneal factor and nailed it.

 

[Karine04]

Does anybody else feel like USMLE World doesn't give enough information to make certain diagnosis??? Is it just me? Sometimes it seems that they are stingy with certain lab data when it is important in the diagnosis and generous in giving a whole bunch of normal labs, that are just extra and don't really help. It seems that Step 2 CK wouldn't do things like that? Anybody feeling the same way. I know that we have to be smart enough to figure out some of this stuff with little information, but it seems like some of these questions are like WTF!!!

I felt that way on World, to a certain extent...took the real thing today and felt it even more so! There were many questions where I was going between two diagnoses in my head, both were listed, and I just had to pick the one I thought was MORE likely. Perhaps it's my own lack of pathophys knowledge? Dunno...

 

[EternalMD]

it doesn't happen very often but when it does, its frustrating. I recently got a question wrong regarding airline pilots. Apparently by knowing that they are pilots, i am supposed to know that they undergo vigorous health screenings on a regular basis and thus pushes the right answer towards another choice. Then I look at the 9-13% that got the question right and wonder if 1) they're smarter or 2) lucky guesses? who knows. But for the most part, they find ways to throw the information into the question and i think its fair 95%of the time.

 

[domer621]

Does anybody else feel like USMLE World doesn't give enough information to make certain diagnosis??? Is it just me? Sometimes it seems that they are stingy with certain lab data when it is important in the diagnosis and generous in giving a whole bunch of normal labs, that are just extra and don't really help. It seems that Step 2 CK wouldn't do things like that? Anybody feeling the same way. I know that we have to be smart enough to figure out some of this stuff with little information, but it seems like some of these questions are like WTF!!!

Wait until you take the real CK. 😉

 

[Ypo.]

it doesn't happen very often but when it does, its frustrating. I recently got a question wrong regarding airline pilots. Apparently by knowing that they are pilots, i am supposed to know that they undergo vigorous health screenings on a regular basis and thus pushes the right answer towards another choice. Then I look at the 9-13% that got the question right and wonder if 1) they're smarter or 2) lucky guesses? who knows. But for the most part, they find ways to throw the information into the question and i think its fair 95%of the time.

Ha! I got that one wrong, too.

 

[rayofdiana]

Ha! I got that one wrong, too.

Me too. Seriously? I'm supposed to know the details of pilot health screening requirements.

Although, I actually have issue with the peritoneal factor question. Does anyone know where that info is from? Because, according to ASRM, ovulation dysfunction is the most common cause of female infertility.

 

[ranmyaku]

Me too. Seriously? I'm supposed to know the details of pilot health screening requirements.

Although, I actually have issue with the peritoneal factor question. Does anyone know where that info is from? Because, according to ASRM, ovulation dysfunction is the most common cause of female infertility.

I think they are basing it off of this: The World Health Organization (WHO) task force on Diagnosis and Treatment of Infertility.

 

[rayofdiana]

Ah, I should have known. I keep getting into trouble by going with the OB/GYN subspecialists' opinions instead of the generalists.

Do you have that link? I've been trying to find it, and I can find things showing breakdowns of infertility in different countries but nothing overall. I really am trying to learn, not trying to be a tool (I realize tone can be hard to catch on SDN).

 

[ranmyaku]

I just looked it up on Up-to-Date when you asked. That is the reference they use when they discuss the different etiologies of infertility.

If I remember correctly, ovarian factors were 25%, but if you add up the other factors such as endometriosis, PID, adhesions, etc. Then it comes out to be higher than 25%, thus the answer would be peritoneal factors.

I'm just guessing that is how they came up with that question/answer. There could be another source that is better than that one.

 

[rayofdiana]

Thanks!

So, they count PID as peritoneal factor? I always thought it was tubal factor. I guess when it comes to infertility, things tend to be combinatorial, thus leading to the confusion.

 

[EternalMD]

just to vent about another question I had ran into. Sometimes just when I think that I've figured out the thinking of UW, they find ways to slap me in the face. Recently I ran across a question where the patient was on a statin. They then asked for a drug to be added. Knowing that fibrates in combination cause rhabdo, I decided to avoid that answer expecting the UW response of "due to its interaction.... it is generally not used in combination with one another" I chose another answer. In the answer they agreed that it can cause rhabdo but still chose it as an answer. sometimes it can be frustrating. I mean yes, if the patient wasn't on the statin, its a great answer but that wasn't the case.

 

[Ypo.]

Me too. Seriously? I'm supposed to know the details of pilot health screening requirements.

Although, I actually have issue with the peritoneal factor question. Does anyone know where that info is from? Because, according to ASRM, ovulation dysfunction is the most common cause of female infertility.

I remembered it being ovulatory as well. Blueprints says it's 40% ovulatory and 40% peritoneal.

I don't always believe the explanations on UW. I'll bet the real exam will be a lot more clear overall.

 

[Babycatcher2B]

it doesn't happen very often but when it does, its frustrating. I recently got a question wrong regarding airline pilots. Apparently by knowing that they are pilots, i am supposed to know that they undergo vigorous health screenings on a regular basis and thus pushes the right answer towards another choice.

I know I am late, but I just got the pilots question, so I must chime in: WTF!!!!!!😡