Effect of a shorter clerkship on third-year obstetrics and gynecology final examination scores.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if either a shorter third-year obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) student clerkship or the semester of rotation results in differences in a student's objective or subjective performance.


METHODS
Five hundred twenty-one students from 1995-1998 (8-week clerkship) and 112 students from 1998-1999 (6 weeks) in their third year of medical school were included. Final examination scores, subjective assessments for the Ob/Gyn clerkship, final grades and United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE) Step 1 scores were obtained (first attempts only). Student t tests, chi2 and univariate analysis (using USMLE Step 1 scores as a control) were used (P <. 05) to compare the Ob/Gyn clerkship scores/grades by both clerkship length and semester of rotation.


RESULTS
The 8-week and 6-week clerkship mean final examination scores were 69.5 and 69.7, respectively; the USMLE Step 1 scores were 205.1 and 215.1, respectively (P < .001). After univariate analysis, lower examination scores were seen for students clerking on the 6-week rotation (P < .001) as well as for those clerking in the first semester (first semester, 68.1; second, 71.3; P < .001). Based upon these results, the 8-week clerkship scores were calculated to be approximately 3.4 points higher than those of the 6-week clerkship, potentially lowering the final grades of 15.2% of the 6-week students. No significant differences were seen with the comparisons of a student's subjective assessments.


CONCLUSIONS
A shorter third-year Ob/Gyn student clerkship appears to lower Ob/Gyn final examination scores. Lower examination scores are also seen for students with a first-semester clerkship. These lower scores could lead to lower final grades.
Myles
Thomas D
TD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Mary's Health Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63117, USA. mylesth@slucare1.sluh.edu
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States