A 54% increase in first-year medical student utilization of COMLEX-USA® Level 1 practice questions and a 20-fold increase in the number of questions taken were observed.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 10, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUNCOM) has been leveraging COMBANK, powered by TrueLearn, as a learning and exam preparation resource to support their students in preparing for the COMLEX-USA® examination series.
In May 2022, the COMLEX-USA® Level 1 shifted its reporting model from a three-digit score to a pass/fail format as part of its initiative to help students better manage test-day stress and anxiety over residency matches. Following the transition, osteopathic medical schools observed students spending less time preparing for the exam; as a result, there was an overall decline in first-time pass rates. This gave cause for concern, primarily as COMLEX-USA® Level 1 scores were traditionally used as a key metric for assessing residency applications and determining students' chances of matching into their desired medical specialty.
To ensure student success after the revised reporting format, TUNCOM focused on increasing student engagement starting in the first year with COMBANK and maximizing its value and efficacy. The school also wanted to create opportunities for students to participate in scholarly activities to optimize their residency application outcomes.
To that effect, TUNCOM adopted an innovative approach, leveraging a unique functionality within COMBANK that allowed second-year students to tag questions aligning with the first-year curriculum. This made it easy for first-year students and teaching faculty to find the right questions that were important and relevant to their courses. Faculty could then create quizzes based on the tags, and students were encouraged to incorporate the questions into their regular study regimes.
The results were remarkable: compared to the first-year medical students from the prior year, the 2027 cohort utilizing the tagged questions showed a 54% increase in student participation, while the number of questions taken increased 20-fold, with over 18,000 questions completed within the first half of the current academic year.
With that, TUNCOM not only maximized the value and efficacy of COMBANK but also empowered students to integrate practice retrieval and spaced repetition into their study routine—two learning science techniques that strengthen concept mastery and long-term knowledge retention. As students became involved in shaping and modeling effective self-directed learning, it paved the way for them to showcase their academic involvement and collectively participate in research.
Students involved in this scholarly work will present their research during a Learning, Curriculum, and Assessment poster session at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Educating Leaders '24 Annual Conference, scheduled for April 2024 in Kansas City. Attendees can stop by the poster session on Thursday, April 18, from 4:30-6:00 PM to discuss their research further.
"The partnership between TrueLearn and TUNCOM is a testament to our shared commitment toward driving excellence in osteopathic medical education," said Kate Campbell, TrueLearn's Chief Commercial Officer. "It marks a new era in medical education—one that focuses on instilling the importance of lifelong learning while also ensuring optimal pass rates on board exams."
COMBANK, powered by TrueLearn, is used by over 93% of osteopathic medical students nationwide. Enriched with over 2,750 NBOME-formatted test items and featuring a simulated Prometric testing interface, data shows that the average student improves their 3-digit score by 60 points after completing COMBANK. At the same time, TrueLearn's robust data analytics engine provides programs and faculty with detailed key and objective insights into metrics such as students' study habits, question responses, and content strengths and weaknesses, besides enabling peer tracking and nationwide benchmarking.
Footnote> For more information about COMBANK and other healthcare education solutions by TrueLearn, visit https://truelearn.com/institutions/
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TrueLearn
Kate Campbell
TUNCOM
https://tun.touro.edu/about-us/contact-us/
About TrueLearn
Leading healthcare education platform TrueLearn empowers programs and faculty to help learners realize their full potential and succeed on board exams. Our solutions are built on cognitive science strategies—proven to elevate teaching and learning, strengthen comprehension, and optimize first-time pass rates—and powered by a robust data engine that delivers real-time analytics and insights on key metrics such as learner performance, progress, and exam readiness. This allows programs and faculty to longitudinally track and guide learning performance from day one so they can ensure that the curriculum aligns with educational goals.
TrueLearn's suite of data-driven tools and resources integrates seamlessly into the curriculum to augment didactics, increase learner engagement, facilitate active learning, and provide formative and summative assessments. Programs and faculty who wish to know more about TrueLearn's solutions can visit
https://truelearn.com/institutions/
About TUNCOM
TUNCOM is Nevada's largest medical school, a division of an international university system, offering a distinctive osteopathic approach to medicine concentrating on holistic, patient-centered care. Touro University Nevada was established in 2004 to help address the healthcare discrepancy in Nevada by providing graduates with expanding GME programs and an increased physician workforce.
TUNCOM is located in Henderson, a suburb of the Las Vegas Valley. At Touro Nevada, we strive for early clinical integration, which starts in the first week of your exciting medical experience. Additionally, the success of the past five years demonstrates positive outcomes, with our high board pass rates and high match rates. Students place in highly competitive specialties such as ophthalmology, neurology, and dermatology and at places such as UCLA, Stanford, and Emory.
SOURCE TrueLearn
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