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Performance of candidates disclosing dyslexia with other candidates in a UK medical licensingexamination: cross-sectional study

Asghar, Zahid, Siriwardena, A Niroshan, Elfes, Chris, Richardson, Jo, Larcombe, James, Neden, Catherine A., Salim, Amer, Smalley, David, Blow, Carol (2018) Performance of candidates disclosing dyslexia with other candidates in a UK medical licensingexamination: cross-sectional study. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 94 . pp. 198-203. ISSN 0032-5473. E-ISSN 1469-0756. (doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2017-135326) (KAR id:92010)

Abstract

Purpose of the study The aim of this study was to compare performance of candidates who declared an expert-confirmed diagnosis of dyslexia with all other candidates in the Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) of the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners licensing examination. Study design We used routinely collected data from candidates who took the AKT on one or more occasions between 2010 and 2015. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse performance of candidates who declared dyslexia with all other candidates, adjusting for candidate characteristics known to be associated with examination success including age, sex, ethnicity, country of primary medical qualification, stage of training, number of attempts and time spent completing the test. Results The analysis included data from 14 examinations involving 14 801 candidates of which 2.6% (379/14 801) declared dyslexia. The pass rate for candidates who declared dyslexia was 83.6% compared with 95.0% for other candidates. After adjusting for covariates linked to examination success including age, sex, ethnicity, country of primary medical qualification, stage of training, number of attempts and time spent completing the test dyslexia was not significantly associated with pass rates in the AKT. Candidates declaring dyslexia after initially failing the AKT were more likely to have a primary medical qualification outside the UK. Conclusions Performance was similar in AKT candidates disclosing dyslexia with other candidates once covariates associated with examination success were adjusted for. Candidates declaring dyslexia after initially failing the AKT were more likely to have a primary medical qualification outside the UK.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1136/postgradmedj-2017-135326
Uncontrolled keywords: Medical education, assessment, general practice, gender, ethnicity, dyslexia
Subjects: R Medicine > R Medicine (General) > R729 Types of medical practice > R729.5.G4 General practice
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Kent and Medway Medical School
Depositing User: Catherine Neden
Date Deposited: 04 Dec 2021 17:31 UTC
Last Modified: 06 Dec 2021 11:51 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/92010 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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