What predicts surgical internship performance?
BACKGROUND
Variables associated with postgraduate year 1 (PGY-l) performance in surgical training have not been fully defined.


METHODS
Mean composite PGY-l evaluation scores were calculated from responses to questionnaires mailed to surgical program directors of 87 surgical graduates from 1997 to 2001. We analyzed evaluation scores for associations with sex, surgical specialty choice, United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) step 1 and step 2 scores, Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) election, and third-year clerkships' grade point average (GPA).


RESULTS
There were significant first-order associations between PGY-l performance evaluation score and each of USMLE step 2 score and GPA. In a multiple linear regression model that included sex, surgical specialty choice, USMLE step l and step 2 scores, AOA, and GPA, USMLE step 2 score was the only significant predictor of PGY-l performance.


CONCLUSIONS
Multiinstitutional studies are warranted to determine the predictive value of USMLE step 2 scores in residency performance beyond PGY-l and to identify other predictors of surgical PGY-l performance.
Andriole
Dorothy A
DA
Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8073, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. andrioled@msnotes.wustl.edu
Jeffe
Donna B
DB
Whelan
Alison J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male