Factors associated with graduation examination results from standardised residency training in Zhejiang Province, China: a cross-sectional analysis of medical examination results data from 2020

OBJECTIVE: Standardised residency training is an important part of postgraduation medical education in China. The graduation examination tests the effect of residency training and is an important measure to guarantee the quality of residency training. This study aimed to analyse the results and associated factors of the graduation examination of standardised residency training in Zhejiang Province in 2020. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of examination results data. SETTING: Medical and health institutions and universities in Zhejiang Province. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 5555 examinees took the graduation examination of standardised residency training in Zhejiang Province in 2020. PRIMARY OUTCOMES: Pass rates of the practical skill examination and written examination. RESULTS: The pass rates for the practical skill examination and written examination were 91.8% and 96.5%, respectively. Examinees aged 30 and above (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.48, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.89), those with 3 years (AOR=0.19, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.43) and 2 years (AOR=0.61, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.96) of training, those who retook the examination (AOR=0.28, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.391) and those from primary healthcare institutions (AOR=0.56, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.77) were less likely to pass the practical skill examination. Examinees with a postgraduate degree and those from colleges and universities had higher pass rates in the written examination (AOR=6.37, 95% CI 1.95 to 23.34; AOR=2.87, 95% CI 1.40 to 6.65, respectively). Examinees aged 30 and above (AOR=0.08, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.30), those aged between 25 and 30 (AOR=0.22, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.80), those who retook the examination (AOR=0.04, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.07), those from second-level hospitals (AOR=0.58, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.87) and those who failed the practical skill examination (AOR=0.17, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.25) were less likely to pass the written examination. CONCLUSIONS: The pass rate of the graduation examination of standardised residency training was associated with the individual characteristics of the examinees. The results of practical skill examination were related to the results of the written examination.