{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,30]],"date-time":"2026-07-30T14:29:17Z","timestamp":1785421757631,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":20,"publisher":"AOSIS","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]],"date-time":"2026-07-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783036800000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background:\u00a0The examination of the Fellowship of the College of Diagnostic Radiologists South Africa (FC Rad Diag [SA]), conducted by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA), is the national exit examination for qualification as a radiology specialist. There is limited published evidence on South African pass rates and factors influencing success in the FC Rad Diag (SA) Part 2 examination.\nObjectives:\u00a0This study aimed to determine the pass rate and factors associated with success in the FC Rad Diag (SA) Part 2 examination.\nMethod:\u00a0A descriptive quantitative study was conducted using CMSA examination data from 2015 to 2023. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used to assess associations between candidate characteristics and examination outcomes.\nResults:\u00a0A total of 377 candidates sat in the examination, with an overall pass rate of 85.7% (323\/377). Candidates who failed were older (median age 42 years old [37\u201347 years] vs. 35 years old [33\u201338 years];\u00a0p\u00a0&lt; 0.001). Higher pass rates were observed among candidates in registrar training posts compared with medical officers (80.2% [259\/323] vs. 19.8% [64\/323];\u00a0p\u00a0&lt; 0.001). Successful candidates had more recently completed their Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh \/MBChB) (median 11 [9\u201313] vs. 14.5 [12\u201317] years;\u00a0p\u00a0&lt; 0.001) and Part 1 examinations (4 years [3\u20135 years] vs 5 years [4\u20136 years];\u00a0p\u00a0&lt; 0.001). They also had fewer examination attempts (median 1 [1\u20132] vs. 3.5 [2\u20135];\u00a0p\u00a0&lt; 0.001).\nConclusion:\u00a0Success in the FC Rad Diag (SA) Part 2 examination is influenced by multiple candidate-related factors.\nContribution:\u00a0Targeted academic support programmes should focus on candidates at higher risk of failure, particularly those outside formal registrar posts and those with multiple examination attempts, to improve equity and overall specialist throughput nationally.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4102\/sajr.v30i1.3459","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T09:27:02Z","timestamp":1782898022000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Candidate-related factors associated with success in the Fellowship of the College of Diagnostic Radiologists South Africa Part 2 examination"],"prefix":"10.4102","volume":"30","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-3106-8657","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Thabokgone","family":"Muwezwa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03rp50x72","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of the Witwatersrand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2801-3287","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Halvani","family":"Moodley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03rp50x72","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of the Witwatersrand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-3661-4855","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anushka","family":"Ajith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/03rp50x72","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}],"name":"University of the Witwatersrand"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2580","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref0","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Andronikou S. \u2018Board exams\u2019 for South African Radiology registrars \u2013 Level the playing field. S Afr J Radiol. 2012;16(1):2. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/sajr.v16i1.221","DOI":"10.4102\/sajr.v16i1.221"},{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pitcher R, De Vries C, Lockhat Z. The FC Rad Diag(SA): Stretched, but still in step \u2013 Report on a Royal College observership. S Afr J Radiol. 2017;21(1):1\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/sajr.v21i1.1092","DOI":"10.4102\/sajr.v21i1.1092"},{"key":"ref2","unstructured":"Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. FC Rad Diag (SA) regulations [homepage on the Internet]. 2022 [updated 2022 Jun; cited 2024 Jul 29]. Available from: https:\/\/cmsa.co.za\/document\/01-fc-rad-diagsa-regulations\/"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Allen P, Jessup B, Kirschbaum M, et al. Preparing for success in final summative medical specialist examinations: The case for RACE. BMC Med Educ. 2023;23(1):918. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12909-023-04920-y","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-023-04920-y"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Willett LL, Halvorsen AJ, Adams M, et al. Factors associated with declining residency program pass rates on the ABIM certification examination. Am J Med. 2016;129(7):759\u2013765. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.amjmed.2016.03.020","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjmed.2016.03.020"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gao Q, Li R, Xia Z, Qu X, Jiang L. 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. BMJ Open. 2023;13(7):e066167. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmjopen-2022-066167","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2022-066167"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Linton S. Taking the difference out of attainment. BMJ. 2020;368:m438. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.m438","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.m438"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hawtin KE, Williams HRT, McKnight L, Booth TC. Performance in the FRCR (UK) Part 2B examination: Analysis of factors associated with success. Clin Radiol. 2014;69(7):750\u2013757. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.crad.2014.03.007","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crad.2014.03.007"},{"key":"ref8","unstructured":"South African Government News Agency. President Ramaphosa announces a nationwide lockdown [homepage on the Internet]. 2020 [cited 2024 Jul 29]. Available from: https:\/\/www.sanews.gov.za\/south-africa\/president-ramaphosa-announces-nationwide-lockdown"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hundah SN, Sibiya MN, Khoza TE. Lived experiences of radiology caregivers during a health crisis: A COVID-19 case analysis. Health SA Gesondheid. 2024;29:9. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/hsag.v29i0.2532","DOI":"10.4102\/HSAG.v29i0.2532"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Peer S, Burrows SA, Mankahla N, Fagan JJ. Supernumerary registrar experience at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. S Afr Med J. 2016;107(1):76\u201379. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7196\/SAMJ.2016.v107.i1.11345","DOI":"10.7196\/SAMJ.2016.v107.i1.11345"},{"key":"ref11","unstructured":"Ramoorthy V. A review of FC Rad Diag (SA) examination results over ten years [master\u2019s dissertation] [homepage on the Internet]. Durban: University of KwaZulu-Natal; 2016 [cited 2025 Mar 05]. Available from: http:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/10413\/16051"},{"key":"ref12","unstructured":"Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Optimizing Graduate Medical Trainee (Resident) Hours and Work Schedule to Improve Patient Safety. Resident duty hours: Enhancing sleep, supervision, and safety [homepage on the Internet]. Ulmer C, Miller Wolman D, Johns MME, editors. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US); 2009 [cited 2025 Mar 05]. Available from: http:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK214948\/"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Winter R, Norman RI, Patel R. A qualitative exploration of the lived experience of GP trainees failing to progress in training. Educ Prim Care. 2021;32(1):10\u201318. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/14739879.2020.1831970","DOI":"10.1080\/14739879.2020.1831970"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Harry V, Bethelmy A. Failing postgraduate exams. BMJ. 2007;335(7630):s200\u2013s201. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/bmj.39387.539537.7D","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.39405.840243.CE"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Veerasuri S, Vekeria M, Davies SE, Graham R, Rodrigues JCL. Impact of COVID-19 on UK radiology training: A questionnaire study. Clin Radiol. 2020;75(11):877.e7\u2013877.e14. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.crad.2020.07.022","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crad.2020.07.022"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Warnica W, Moody A, Probyn L, Bartlett E, Singh N, Pakkal M. Lessons learned from the effects of COVID-19 on the training and education workflow of radiology residents \u2013 A time for reflection: Perspectives of residency program directors and residents in Canada. Can Assoc Radiol J. 2021;72(4):637\u2013644. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0846537120963649","DOI":"10.1177\/0846537120963649"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fossey S, Ather S, Davies S, et al. Impact of COVID-19 on radiology training: Royal College of Radiologists Junior Radiologists Forum national survey. Clin Radiol. 2021;76(7):549.e9\u2013549.e15. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.crad.2021.03.013","DOI":"10.1016\/j.crad.2021.03.013"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nanapragasam A, Mashar M. Postgraduate radiology education: What has covid-19 changed? BJR Open. 2021;3(1):20200064. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1259\/bjro.20200064","DOI":"10.1259\/bjro.20200064"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alvin MD, George E, Deng F, Warhadpande S, Lee SI. The impact of COVID-19 on radiology trainees. Radiology. 2020;296(2):246\u2013248. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1148\/radiol.2020201222","DOI":"10.1148\/radiol.2020201222"}],"container-title":["South African Journal of Radiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/sajr.org.za\/index.php\/sajr\/article\/view\/3459\/4081","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T09:28:18Z","timestamp":1782898098000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/sajr.org.za\/index.php\/sajr\/article\/view\/3459"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]]},"references-count":20,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4102\/sajr.v30i1.3459","relation":{},"ISSN":["1027-202X","2078-6778"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1027-202X","type":"print"},{"value":"2078-6778","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]]},"article-number":"a3459"}}