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In answer to that question, the
examination blueprint (Table 1) reveals that approximately 75% of the
single-best answer, multiple-choice questions test knowledge in the
traditional medical subspecialties. Recognizing that the practice of internal
medicine requires knowledge in other areas, the remaining 25% of questions
relate to allergy/immunology, dermatology, gynecology, neurology,
ophthalmology, and psychiatry. Independent of primary content, some 40% of
the questions are chosen to guarantee coverage of cross-content areas.
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Table 1. ABIM Internal
Medicine Exam Blueprint
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|
Primary Content Area
|
%
|
|
Cardiovascular Disease
|
14%
|
|
Gastroenterology
|
10%
|
|
Pulmonary Disease
|
10%
|
|
Infectious Disease
|
9%
|
|
Rheumatology/Orthopedics
|
8%
|
|
Endocrinology
|
7%
|
|
Medical Oncology
|
7%
|
|
Hematology
|
6%
|
|
Nephrology/Urology
|
6%
|
|
Allergy/Immunology
|
5%
|
|
Psychiatry
|
4%
|
|
Neurology
|
4%
|
|
Dermatology
|
3%
|
|
Obstetrics/Gynecology
|
2%
|
|
Ophthalmology
|
2%
|
|
Miscellaneous
|
3%
|
|
|
100%
|
|
Cross-Content Area
|
|
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Critical Care Medicine
|
10%
|
|
Geriatric Medicine
|
10%
|
|
Prevention
|
6%
|
|
Women's Health
|
6%
|
|
Clinical Epidemiology
|
3%
|
|
Ethics
|
3%
|
|
Nutrition
|
3%
|
|
Palliative/End-of-Life Care
|
3%
|
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Adolescent Medicine
|
2%
|
|
Occupational/Environmental Medicine
|
2%
|
|
Substance Abuse
|
2%
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The vast majority, about 75%, of the exam
questions are based on patient presentations. The settings of the encounters
reflect current medical practice, so most take place in an outpatient or
emergency room setting; the remainder occur in inpatient settings, ranging
from the intensive care unit to the long-term care facility. The majority of
items require integration of information from several sources, prioritization
of alternatives, and/or utilization of clinical judgment in reaching a
correct conclusion. Questions requiring simple recall of medical facts are in
the minority.
The examination blueprint, the foundation
of which is published studies that describe the kinds of tasks internists
actually perform in practice, is reviewed and revised annually by the ABIM
Board of Directors to ensure its currency.
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