Student USMLE step 1 preparation and performance.
OBJECTIVE
Many medical students take commercial preparation courses to prepare for the USMLE Step 1. This investigation examined the relationships among Step 1 performance, preparation method, and academic achievement in medical school.


METHODS
A survey was conducted on 148 junior students at a medical school in July 2000 regarding their preparation methods for Step 1. Additional data was collected on student Step 1 scores, attendance record on preparation courses, and course grades in medical school.


RESULTS
One hundred students (68%) responded to the survey including 32 preparation course participants. Course participants had significantly lower Step 1 scores and second-year GPAs than those of the non-participants (p < 0.05). However, the effect of preparation method was not significant by using ANCOVA when the second-year GPA was used as a covariate (p = 0.71).


CONCLUSIONS
Performance on Step 1 is related to academic performance in medical school and not the type of preparation methods.
Zhang
Chi
C
Department of Medical Education, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33101, USA. czhang@med.miami.edu
Rauchwarger
Abby
A
Toth
Cynthia
C
O'Connell
Mark
M
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D008297:Male