title: Predicting failing performance on a standardized patient clinical performance examination: the importance of communication and professionalism skills deficits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose is to determine which assessment measures identify medical students at risk of failing a clinical performance examination (CPX).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case-control, multiyear design, contingency table analysis, n = 149.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified two predictors of CPX failure in patient-physician interaction skills: low clerkship ratings (odds ratio 1.79, P = .008) and student progress review for communication or professionalism concerns (odds ratio 2.64, P = .002). No assessments predicted CPX failure in clinical skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performance concerns in communication and professionalism identify students at risk of failing the patient-physician interaction portion of a CPX. This correlation suggests that both faculty and standardized patients can detect noncognitive traits predictive of failing performance. Early identification of these students may allow for development of a structured supplemental curriculum with increased opportunities for practice and feedback. The lack of predictors in the clinical skills portion suggests limited faculty observation or feedback.
authors.affiliation: Anna.Chang@ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Christy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boscardin
authors.forename: Calvin L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Loeser
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hauer
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies