Critical analysis of performance of medical students.
BACKGROUND
Admission to B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), a health sciences university, depends upon a candidate's academic score in prior education and performance in entrance examination. This study analyzes the performance of the first three classes of MBBS (Bachelor's Degree in Medicine and Surgery) students at different levels, who graduated between 1999 and 2001.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the premedical performance at different levels has any role in medical performance, and to determine the extent to which the factors predict achievement in the medical program.


METHODS
The scores of students at different levels in premedical and medical education, gender and the medium of schooling of 86 medical students were compiled and analyzed.


RESULTS
Annual medical performance scores were found to be significantly correlated with each other, but the average MBBS score was not dependent on either high school or entrance examination scores. However, it correlated with intermediate level in science score. Thus, the selection procedure needs to be developed in such a way that the candidates selected by the entrance examination are most likely to perform well in medical school and beyond.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a strong need to standardize the entrance selection procedure of MBBS at BPKIHS.
Niraula
Surya Raj
SR
Department of Community Medicine, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. sniraula@yahoo.com
Khanal
Sudhamshu Sharma
SS
D019985:Benchmarking; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D013337:Students, Medical