An Investigation of the Relationship Between COMLEX-USA Licensure Examination Performance and State Licensing Board Disciplinary Actions. (15th October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roberts, William L.; Gross, Gretta A.; Gimpel, John R.; Smith, Larissa L.; Arnhart, Katie; Pei, Xiaomei; Young, Aaron
• Is Part Of: Academic medicine. Volume 95:Number 4(2020)
• Publication Date: 2019-10-15
• Subjects: Medical education -- Periodicals; Medical policy -- Periodicals; Medical personnel -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 610.711
• DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000003046
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1040-2446

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: Passing the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA) serves as a licensing requirement, yet there is limited understanding between this high-states exam and performance outcomes. This study examined the relationship between COMLEX-USA scores and disciplinary actions received by osteopathic physicians. Method: Data for osteopathic physicians (N = 26, 383) who graduated from medical school from 2004–2013 were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression to assess the relationship between COMLEX-USA scores and placement into one of 3 disciplinary action categories relative to no action received, controlling for years in practice and gender. Results: Less than 1% of physicians in this study (n = 187) had a disciplinary action(s). Controlling for all COMLEX-USA levels, years in practice, and gender, higher Level 3 scores were associated with significant decreased odds for all action categories: revoked licensed (odds ratio [OR] = 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36, 0.72; P < .001), imposed limitations to practice (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.41, 0.84; P < .01), and other action imposed (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.33, 0.69; P < .001), relative to not receiving an action. In these same models, higher Level 2 Performance Evaluation Biomedical/Biomechanical Domain scores decreased the odds for an action that revoked a license (OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.58, 0.98, P < .05) and imposed limitations to practice (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.49, 0.84, P < .001). Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that the COMLEX-USA delivers useful information regarding the likelihood of a practitioner receiving state board disciplinary actions.