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Previous Volume 292:137-141 January 16, 1975 Number 3 Next

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Abstract

Medical statistics report United States medical graduates licensed at higher rates than foreign medical graduates. This difference is often interpreted to show greater medical competence of United States graduates. This study questions this interpretation by analyzing 1971 licensure rates for both groups who had been interns and residents in 1963. We found that factors unrelated to competence--namely, visa-citizenship status and state of examination--are associated with holding a license. Moreover, quality of medical education is not an accurate predictor of licensure. It follows that the use of licensure rates as measures of medical competence distorts understanding of the quality of medical care in the United States. More probably, the difficulties in obtaining medical licensure experienced by foreign graduates result from the use of such graduates to relieve specific medical-manpower shortages.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Mick, S. S., Comfort, M. E. (1997). The Quality of Care of International Medical Graduates: How does it Compare to that of U.S. Medical Graduates?. Med Care Res Rev 54: 379-413 [Abstract]