What do physicians have to say about the Knowledge Check-In in 2019?
This spring, more than 750 physicians took the Knowledge Check-In (KCI) to meet their assessment requirement of ABIM’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. This year, the KCI rolled out in Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Cardiovascular Disease, Geriatric Medicine, Hematology, Pulmonary Disease, Infectious Disease, and Endocrinology.
Overall feedback from diplomates continues to be positive, particularly around the flexibility of testing location—with about two thirds taking the KCI online. Others shared an appreciation for the access to UpToDate®, citing that it more closely reflected how they looked up information in practice. A small percentage of physicians experienced technical issues—though it was fewer than in spring 2018. Most of the technical issues were resolved quickly and did not prevent completion of the KCI.
Several more KCI administrations are scheduled for later this year, and eight additional specialties will roll out in 2020. Registration for the Fall 2019 administrations of the KCI is open and ends on:
- July 15th for Cardiovascular Disease, Gastroenterology, and Rheumatology;
- August 15th for Geriatric Medicine and Hematology; and,
- September 15th for Infectious Disease, Endocrinology and Pulmonary Disease.
Below is a sampling of post-exam survey responses from the most recent KCI, published in unedited form.
“Reasonable and relevant knowledge assesment to my practice.”
“Really like the testing experience, very smooth and comfortable, much better than having to drive to a testing center”
“really liked home based testing as was more convenient but wished more testing dates/times were available also wish knowledge check in could be less frequent if exam passed – every 4-6 years instead of every 2”
“More time should be allocated for exam and board should be topic wise and they can test you multiple times in a year”
“I like being able to test from home. The logistics of an all day exam was the major reason I didnt recertify.”
“Good opportunity to take at home / remote location. Security seemed a little overdone but understandable I guess; felt a little silly having to turn my laptop around the room and checking the floor, ceiling, etc. The CT scan images are of so-so quality; I would never feel comfortable making a clinical diagnosis in a real patient based on such a compressed image. But they were probably OK for the test. Overall a WAY better experience than going to a test center. Thanks so much for doing this!”
“Computer at the test center is quite slow and it stopped functioning once. The proctor needed to step in and restarted the computer. Otherwise it’s all good.”
“Computer based portal was overall good but did have a significant issue where exam froze and did not allow me to continue. Required contacting proctor, restarting computer, and restarting test. Overall 15-20 minute process. Only occurred once but did affect my concentration and took several questions to get back into exam taking degree of concentration. Not sure if in future would take at home or chose to go to testing center”
“1) Notifications on my Mac crashed my computer at the begining and should be disabled prior to starting. 2) I was disconnected toward the end of my exam with a delay being reconnected with difficulty getting in contact with Pearson. Anxiety provoking.”
“Up to date was difficult to use and it acutally encountered an error during my testing process. ABIM should recommend that test takers use a MOUSE, up to date is very hard to navigate without this.”
“The use of Up to Date was useful but maneuvering within the test was difficult and the movement was too sensitive to the touch. One ended up jumping arounc too much in the test.”
“It would be useful to have a lexi-com type program for drug -drug interactions”
“access to some other resources such as CDC and USPHS guidelines would be helpful”
“difficult to read questions and use up to date at same time – had to close screen with up to date to see questions”
“Because UpToDate was available, we were really tested on what we do every day: formulating clinical questions and answering them quickly and well. One’s training and background reading/experience helps formulate the questions and your judgment helps you pick the right answer.THAT is exactly how we should be tested, NOT on how effectively we crammed a bunch of material into our heads the last year”
“I wish Pearson and ABIM would have mentioned that in the checklist…..that Up to Date would be available and you would not use your own version o log in but that an ABIM version would be applied. this would have settled some pre-test and pre-systems check anxiety as Pearson could not answer this”
Thank you to all physicians sharing feedback with ABIM.
If you’re taking an assessment soon, don’t forget to go to abim.org/mocexam to review the MOC Assessment Information including: the exam blueprint, an exam tutorial and the UpToDate User Academy.
