Correlation of United States medical licensing examination step 2 and obstetrics and gynecology clerkship final examination scores with clerkship clinical evaluation scores.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if a student's subjective clinical evaluation score (CES) correlates with United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 or Step 2, obstetrics/gynecology clerkship final examination or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores.


METHODS
The test scores for all students rotating at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center at Amarillo from 1994 to 2002 were obtained. Regression models were used to compare the CES and examination scores. The 10th percentile of the CES was statistically compared with each examination score as well as its 10th percentiles.


RESULTS
The mean scores for the 285 students were USMLE Step 1, 204.4; USMLE Step 2, 205.0; MCAT, 29.1; obstetrics/gynecology final, 86.0; CES, 88.5. Linear correlations were found between the CES and USMLE Step 2 (r = 0.26, p < 0.001) and the obstetrics/gynecology final (r=0.25, p<0.001). Students with a poor CES (<10th percentile) had lower USMLE Step 2 scores, (188.2 vs. 206.3, p < 0.001) and more examination failures (odds ratio [OR] 8.9 [2.3-33.9]) as well as both lower obstetrics/gynecology final examination scores (81.1 vs. 86.3, p < 0.001) and more clerkship failures (OR 14.2 [1.9-107.4]).


CONCLUSIONS
Students' subjective CESs correlate linearly with performance on both the USMLE Step 2 and obstetrics/gynecology final examinations. Poor CESs (< 10th percentile) predicted lower scores on the future standardized examinations studied.
Myles
Thomas D
TD
From the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. mylesth@slucare1.sluh.edu
D000328:Adult; D003099:College Admission Test; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards*; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence; D012044:Regression Analysis