G276(P) The international in-training examination (I-ITE) as a tool to measure pediatric knowledge acquisition by rwandan pediatric residents

Aims To outline knowledge acquisition by Rwandan pediatric residents, using the International In-Training Examination (I-ITE), during the Human Resources for Health (HRH) Program from 2012–2018. Methodology Retrospective descriptive analysis. All Rwandan pediatric residents took the I-ITE for five of six academic years of the study period. Individual resident scores were weighted using the nine other global I-ITE sites to minimise confounding from annual variations in exam difficulty. Results 84 Rwandan residents took a total of 213 I-ITE exams (Table 1). Weighted mean scores increased from 34.3% in 2013 to 49.5% in 2018 (p Conclusion This is the first study to describe the use of the I-ITE in a resource-limited setting. The I-ITE, is a standardized, well-designed, and independent exam and is a powerful tool to monitor knowledge acquisition. There are several plausible explanations for the increased scores, namely: implementation of a formal pediatric curriculum; the improved knowledge level of clinicians entering the residency program; improved number and diversity of pediatric faculty; change of the official language in Rwanda; and competency in completing MCQ questions. The Human Resources for Health (HRH) program, launched in August 2012 as a $150 m US Government-funded initiative to address the lack of qualified health professionals in Rwanda. The results support the theory that programs such as HRH are highly effective at improving the quality of residency programs and undergraduate medical education.