Psychometric Evaluation of the Cardiology Certification Exam of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology

Abstract Background The Cardiology Certification Exam is issued annually by the Brazilian Cardiology Society and set and applied by the Judging Committee for the Cardiologist Title (CJTEC). The psychometric analysis of the exam items using the Item Response Theory (IRT) may provide robust data that can help in the continuous improvement of this instrument. Objectives To evaluate the psychometric properties of the 2019 Cardiology Certification Exam in relation to the IR parameters. Methods This was an observational study, with psychometric analysis of the 120 questions of the exam taken by 1,120 candidates for the title of Cardiologist in 2019. Results The IRT analysis revealed that 32.2% of the items had a “high” or “very high” discriminating power, 49.2% were categorized as “easy” or “very easy”, and 41.5% showed a high probability of a correct guessing. Sixty-nine deficient items in terms of the IRT parameters were identified, which were then considered poorly effective in evaluating the candidate’s ability. Conclusions The psychometric analysis of the 2019 Cardiology Certification Exam by the IRT revealed a high percentage of easy questions, with nearly two thirds of the items with a high probability of correct guessing. These data may serve as a basis for a series of discussions and proposals for the elaboration of future certificate exams in Cardiology.

【背景】巴西心脏病学会每年颁发心脏病学认证考试，该考试由心脏病学家职称评审委员会（Judging Committee for the Cardiologist Title, CJTEC）命题并组织实施。采用项目反应理论（Item Response Theory, IRT）对考试题目开展心理测量学分析，可获取可靠数据，助力该考试的持续优化。
【研究目的】评估2019年心脏病学认证考试基于项目反应理论参数的心理测量学特性。
【研究方法】本研究为观察性研究，对2019年1120名心脏病学家职称申请者参与的该考试的120道题目进行心理测量学分析。
【研究结果】项目反应理论分析显示，32.2%的题目具备“高”或“极高”区分度；49.2%的题目被归类为“简单”或“极简单”；41.5%的题目存在较高的猜测答对概率。研究共识别出69道不符合项目反应理论参数要求的缺陷题目，这类题目在评估考生能力时有效性欠佳。
【研究结论】采用项目反应理论对2019年心脏病学认证考试开展的心理测量学分析显示，该考试中简单题占比偏高，近三分之二的题目存在较高的猜测答对概率。本研究数据可为未来心脏病学认证考试的命题研讨与优化方案制定提供参考依据。