title: Student USMLE step 1 preparation and performance.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, University of Miami School of Medicine, Florida 33101, USA. czhang@med.miami.edu
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Abby
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rauchwarger
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: 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