ArticleOTO open
Overemphasis of USMLE and Its Potential Impact on Diversity in Otolaryngology.
Article in OTO open. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
15 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- The impact of preference signaling on interview and match rate for surgical match in resident education: a meta-analysis.BMC medical education · 2025Pooled it
- First-Generation Low-Income Individuals in Medicine: A Scoping Review.Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges · 2025Article
- Converting USMLE Step 1 to Pass or Fail: The Potential Impact on Applicants Who Are Female or From Underrepresented Groups.HCA healthcare journal of medicine · 2025Article
- Characteristics Associated with Successful Residency Match in General Surgery.Annals of surgery open : perspectives of surgical history, education, and clinical approaches · 2024Article
- Article
- Assessment of Demographic Changes of Workforce Diversity in Otolaryngology, 2013 to 2022.JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery · 2023Article
- Interview Invitations for Otolaryngology Residency Positions Across Demographic Groups Following Implementation of Preference Signaling.JAMA network open · 2023Article
- The Impact of Holistic Review of Urology Residency Applications on Selection for Interview During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Urology · 2023Review
- The US Residency Selection Process After the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Pass/Fail Change: Overview for Applicants and Educators.JMIR medical education · 2023Article
- How the Quadruple Aim Widens the Lens on the Transition to Residency.Journal of graduate medical education · 2022Article
- The Costliness of US Residency Applications: Moving Toward Preference Signaling and Caps.Journal of graduate medical education · 2022Article
- The Effect of Pass/Fail Exam Grading on Exam Performance in a Pediatric Clerkship.Journal of medical education and curricular developmentArticle
- Article
- Quality Versus Quantity: Using Scholarly Activity to Assess Otolaryngology Residency Candidates.OTO openArticle
- Underrepresented Applicants Post-USMLE Pass/Fail: A National Survey of Competitive Residency Directors.Journal of medical education and curricular developmentArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveApplicant demographics during the 2019-2020 residency cycle were evaluated to determine if strict utilization of United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores in applicant selection could lead to a restriction in diversity. STUDY
designCross-sectional study.
settingOtolaryngology residency applicants to a single institution.
methodsA total of 381 applicants were analyzed by age, gender, applicant type, race/ethnicity, USMLE scores, permanent zip code, and graduating medical school.
resultsAmong applicants, 37% were women; 9% were ≥30 years of age; 12% were underrepresented minorities (URMs); 71% to 81% had above-average socioeconomic surrogate markers; 22% were from a top 25
conclusionOur data suggest that in the pre-USMLE Step 1 pass/fail setting, strict adherence to USMLE scores may lead to disproportionally low recruitment of applicants who are women, ≥30 years of age, URMs, and from institutions without an otolaryngology residency program. We must implement measures against overemphasizing the absolute values of USMLE scores for a true holistic review of applicants, specifically to prevent an overemphasis on the USMLE Step 2 score.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.