Effect of quantitative feedback on student performance on the National Board Medical Examination in an obstetrics and gynecology clerkship.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether regular quantitative feedback improved medical student performance on the National Board of Medical Examiners Obstetrics and Gynecology subject test.


METHODS
We examined the effect of including regular quantitative feedback (in the form of biweekly quizzes) in the obstetrics and gynecology clerkship on student performance on the National Board of Medical Examiners Obstetrics and Gynecology examination at the University at Buffalo.


RESULTS
Students who completed the clerkship format including the regular feedback scored significantly higher than students who completed the clerkship without feedback (70.3 +/- 7.1 vs 68.2 +/- 8.6; P < .005; mean +/- SD; t test). The number of students failing the examination was significantly reduced from 6.39% to 0.47% (chi2 test; P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Introduction of regular quantitative feedback significantly improved student performance on the National Board of Medical Examiners test, and resulted in a significant decrease in the number of students failing the course.
Brar
Mandeep K
MK
Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Laube
Douglas W
DW
Bett
Glenna C L
GC
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007721:Knowledge of Results, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis