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The Royal Colleges of Physicians of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London share a common membership examination, the MRCP (UK). Doctors wishing to complete training in a medical specialty in the UK must pass this two part examination. The first part (MRCP (UK) part 1) comprises a written multiple choice paper, while the second part (MRCP (UK) part 2) consists of both a written and a clinical examination.
The structure of this clinical examination was changed in June 2001 to the PACES (practical assessment of clinical examination skills) format. 1 Candidates are examined at five clinical stations. The stations comprise: (1) respiratory and abdominal (16 points); (2) history taking (8 points); (3) cardiovascular and neurological examination (16 points); (4) communication skills (8 points); and (5) skin, locomotor, endocrine and ophthalmic examination (8 points). The mark required to pass is 42 points.
MRCP (UK) has an international reputation and attracts many candidates who have trained and work outside the UK. It is important that the examination process be free of bias. To date however, the Colleges of Physicians have not published data on the demographic distribution of those candidates, either successful or unsuccessful, who sit the examination. A number of factors may affect the probability of passing this examination. One is the availability and quality of postgraduate medical education. Others such as sex, ethnic origin, and the country of undergraduate medical education, are not amenable to change. This study used a questionnaire to obtain demographic data regarding candidates preparing to sit the PACES examination and to investigate factors that may predict a candidate's success.
METHODS
The candidates were all attending a four day revision course (PasTest) during the month before sitting the PACES exam. Courses are filled in chronological order of applications received without any candidate selection, until they reach a specified maximum number.
Candidates (n=534) attending PasTest clinical courses in preparation for the PACES examination in June and October 2002 were asked to complete a questionnaire (available on line http://www.postgradmedj.com/supplemental ). It included questions about the age, sex, ethnic origin, country of first medical qualification, year of qualifying, first language, postgraduate medical training, and previous examination experience. It also sought to assess each candidate's confidence in their chances of passing the PACES examination. Six candidates attended a...