Psychiatry Written Board Examination: Experience of Turkey 2006-2009

Objective: This paper aims to provide information about process and results of Psychiatry Written Board Examinations 2006-2009 of Psychiatric Association of Turkey. Methods: Examination process consists of making announcement of examination, gathering and technical analysis of questions, preparing of blueprint and exam set, determination of passing score, pilot testing, carrying out exam, assessment of Examination Evaluation Forms, announcement of results, and preparing examination report. Examination Evaluation Form was used for getting examinees' opinions about the exam. The form consisted of 8 questions regarding personal information and 7 items according to 9-point Likert scale. The data were processed with SPSS 13.0, for Windows Release 13.0. Results: 924 questions were gathered within four years; the largest proportion of the questions was in "Adult Psychopathology" (22.1%), whereas the smallest proportion was in "Community Psychiatry" (0.04%) and in "Psychiatric Rehabilitation" (0.04%). No major change on exam blueprint was detected throughout the four years. The highest correct answer ratio was in "Sexual Personality Disorders" (90%) and the lowest was in "Research Training" (33.3%). The passing scores for the exams between 2006 and 2009 were 50, 57, 55, and 60, respectively. All examinees were successful in 2006 and 2007 - 86.7% in 2008 and 50% in 2009. The highest mean score was in 2008 with 67.1. The responses to the Evaluation Form revealed satisfaction of candidates with the examinations. Conclusion: The four-year exam process has been a successful experience. Improvement of the question bank and promoting the popularity of the exam, however, are essential for the permanence of the exam. (Archives of Neuropsychiatry 2010; 47: 29-35)