What's the deal with the new Step 1?

[NeedToStudy]

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So it says that after May 2015 the step 1 will include a new emphasis on safety science and quality improvement principles. What exactly does this mean and where can I study this?

 

[sloop]

That could mean literally anything.

My guess is that unless they released a notice about more specific topics, the assumption is that medical education has already been sufficiently exposing students to these concepts. From what I understand, when they make changes to the content on the USMLE, they do so after already administering similar types of questions as experimental questions in the past. If the previous students who took the test were grossly unprepared for these types of questions, I figure they would have either had a more specific release about new content areas or, more likely, just scrapped the questions until medical education makes broad curricular changes to address the problem.

Even if this phrase does mean a specific set of content as opposed to a new angle to approach asking the typical questions, I kind of doubt it's worth spending time on. I have no idea what the hell that could mean content-wise and I sort of doubt anybody really does. Is the Step going to start asking systems engineering type questions about safety and quality improvement? Maybe. I have no way of knowing but I'm skeptical.

 

[pd1112]

USMLE website gives a list of topics every year. Never hurts to go to the source.

 

[neverenoughtime]

So it says that after May 2015 the step 1 will include a new emphasis on safety science and quality improvement principles. What exactly does this mean and where can I study this?

on usmle website on their exam content break down under social sciences it lists all the things that will be tested. I unforunately will be taking the exam after the may 2015 cut off, my exam isnt for another couple months however i am worried about the social sciences portion as well. Have you found where one could learn the concepts tested on this?

 

[seminoma]

Safety science. Should you double condom? Does foam work to prevent c.diff?

 

[pd1112]

on usmle website on their exam content break down under social sciences it lists all the things that will be tested. I unforunately will be taking the exam after the may 2015 cut off, my exam isnt for another couple months however i am worried about the social sciences portion as well. Have you found where one could learn the concepts tested on this?

Liberal arts UG degree.

 

[Focused1]

Safety science. Should you double condom? Does foam work to prevent c.diff?

What about BBBJ ? ;-) :-D

 

[Focused1]

Allow me to translate for you:

They'll add 5-7 BS questions and pat themselves on the back so hard they sprain something.

USMLE world will rapidly add appropriate sample questions to the qbank (if they haven't already). This will require no more preparation or worry than the current ethics questions do.

They have already added em before the new pool started !

 

[dfib slim]

.

 

[NeedToStudy]

Allow me to translate for you:

They'll add 5-7 BS questions and pat themselves on the back so hard they sprain something.

USMLE world will rapidly add appropriate sample questions to the qbank (if they haven't already). This will require no more preparation or worry than the current ethics questions do.

Is that it? More Behavioral Science questions? Why not just say a new emphasis on Behavioral Science?

 

[NeedToStudy]

BS does not stand for behavioral science...

lol ok now I see what you are saying. Well then my original question stands. 5-7 questions can make a difference in your score. Safety Science sounds like something that would be easy points. So how do we study for this?

 

[messengers]

Safety science. Should you double condom?

Only if the person isn't sponge worthy

 

[Doct2be]

I had a couple of these "safety science" questions on my exam. The answers, at least I thought was the answer based on the question stem, ranged from things like hand-washing to covering your mouth while sneezing, to sterilization/sanitation based off a specific organism. I don't really remember a WTF question on safety science, however, there were like two of them that had two great answer choices so I would be stuck choosing between the two.

 

[pd1112]

lol ok now I see what you are saying. Well then my original question stands. 5-7 questions can make a difference in your score. Safety Science sounds like something that would be easy points. So how do we study for this?

This was a great post earlier and gives you the answer to your question:

USMLE website gives a list of topics every year. Never hurts to go to the source.

 

[jockdoc97]

Only if the person isn't sponge worthy

fantastic reference

 

[pd1112]

@SouthernSurgeon are allopathic and surgery that dead? Never seen you over here before lol

 

[TheFuture_22]

I can confirm as well that UWorld has at least a few questions that fit this description. They are not that difficult.

 

[StepRepeater1]

Can you use step 2 ck behavioral section to study for this?