HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tyrer, S. P. Articles by Katona, C. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Tyrer, S. P. Articles by Katona, C.

The relationship between medical school of training, age,gender and success in the MRCPsych examinations

Royal College of Psychiatrists

W.-C. Leung, Lecturer in Public Health Medicine

University of East Anglia

J. Smalls, formerly Head of Examination Services

Royal College of Psychiatrists

C. Katona, Dean

Royal College of Psychiatrists, 17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

Factors leading to success in the MRCPsych Part I and Part II examinations, including age, gender and original medical school of training, were examined in the 1999 MRCPsych examination entrants to determine how far they are associated with the results. The ethnic breakdown of examiners of the MRCPsych examinations was also determined and compared with the origin of all consultant psychiatrists.

RESULTS

Younger age at taking the examination and training at a British or Irish medical school were found to be highly significant predictors of success in the MRCPsych examinations. When allowance was made for confounding variables, the gender of candidates did not contribute to success. There was no difference in ethnic background of examiners compared with consultant psychiatrists overall.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Factors affecting trainees wishing to undertake a psychiatric career need to be more closely examined. To ensure fairness and transparency in future examinations the ethnicity of candidates taking the examination needs to be addressed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. Oyebode and E. Furlong MRCPsych examinations: cumulative results 1997-2002 Psychiatr. Bull., February 1, 2007; 31(2): 61 - 64. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Wilson and J. M. Eagles The feminisation of psychiatry: changing gender balance in the psychiatric workforce Psychiatr. Bull., September 1, 2006; 30(9): 321 - 323. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Lamb, N. Evans, and D. Baillie A career in child and adolescent psychiatry? Survey of trainees' views Psychiatr. Bull., February 1, 2006; 30(2): 61 - 64. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R Bessant, D Bessant, A Chesser, and G Coakley Analysis of predictors of success in the MRCP (UK) PACES examination in candidates attending a revision course Postgrad. Med. J., February 1, 2006; 82(964): 145 - 149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Tyrer and F. Oyebode Why does the MRCPsych examination need to change? The British Journal of Psychiatry, March 1, 2004; 184(3): 197 - 199. [Full Text] [PDF]