Authors: Sun H, Harman AE, Mitchell JD, Gaiser RR, Deiner SG
Anesthesia & Analgesia. March 27, 2025. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007490
This large retrospective study analyzed over 17,000 BASIC Examination attempts by nearly 16,000 anesthesiology residents between 2014 and 2022. The first-time pass rate differed by gender, race, and ethnicity: men (92.7%) outperformed women (88.1%), and White (92.4%) and Asian (92.6%) residents outperformed Black/African American (81.9%) and Hispanic or Latino (85.8%) residents. International medical graduates also scored slightly lower than US graduates. Logistic regression confirmed lower odds of first-time success for female, Black/African American, Middle Eastern/North African, and Hispanic/Latino residents.
Performance gaps narrowed but did not disappear after adjusting for prior in-training exam scores, suggesting that early performance predicts later outcomes but does not fully explain disparities. Importantly, eventual pass rates exceeded 99% for all subgroups, indicating that differences primarily reflect timing of success rather than ultimate certification.
What You Should Know
• First-time BASIC pass rates show disparities by gender, race, and ethnicity.
• Differences persist even after controlling for prior exam scores.
• Nearly all residents ultimately pass by their third attempt.
• Further research is needed to understand the structural or educational factors underlying these disparities.
Practice Implication
Residency programs should consider early identification and support for groups at higher risk of delayed success, with interventions that go beyond exam preparation to address potential systemic and educational barriers.
References
Sun H, Harman AE, Mitchell JD, Gaiser RR, Deiner SG. Anesth Analg. 2025; doi:10.1213/ANE.0000000000007490
Thank you Anesthesia & Analgesia for allowing us to use this article.