Scheduling surgical success: Early minimally invasive surgery rotations as a predictor of ABSITE performance

Introduction: The American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE®) serves as a benchmark for assessing resident knowledge and comprehension in surgery training programs. While previous studies have examined factors such as USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 performance in ABSITE® preparation, the impact of rotational schedule on ABSITE® performance remains underexplored.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated the independent influence of rotational schedule on ABSITE® performance among interns at a single academic institution over an 11 year period.

Results: Early exposure to minimally invasive surgery rotations and specialty rotations such as surgical oncology and vascular surgery during the winter or just before ABSITE® was associated with higher ABSITE® percentiles when controlled for USMLE Step 2 performance.

Conclusion: This study underscores the significance of rotational scheduling in optimizing ABSITE® performance and suggests potential strategies for enhancing resident preparation and success on this examination.