title: Do medical student's surgical examination scores correlate with performance markers?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some medical school training consists of oral examinations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 9-year review of third-year medical student examinations including oral examinations, National Board of Medical Examiners Surgery Subject Examination (SSE, ie, shelf), and United States Medical Licensing Examinations Step 1 and Step 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Step 1 showed a moderate to strong association with Period 1 orals (Somers' D = .297, P < .001), but not Period 2 orals (Somers' D = .048, P = .053). Period 1 orals (percentage) had a strong association with SSE (Somers' D = .356, P < .001) and Step 2 (Somers' D = .368, P < .001). Period 2 orals (pass/fail) suggested a positive, but not statistically significant, association with SSE (Somers' D = .334, P = .085) and Step 2 (Somers' D = .370, P = .055). Step 1 shows a strong association with SSE (Somers' D = .490, P < .001). SSE showed a strong association with Step 2 (Somers' D = .506, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Orals can be used to identify students who may have difficulty passing the SSE. Step 1 can be used to identify students at risk of poor performance on the SSE, and SSE can be used to identify students at risk for poor performance on Step 2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, 929 N. Saint Francis St., Room 3082, Wichita, KS 67214, USA.
authors.forename: Austin B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, 929 N. Saint Francis St., Room 3082, Wichita, KS 67214, USA.
authors.forename: Abbie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, 929 N. Saint Francis St., Room 3082, Wichita, KS 67214, USA; Department of Medical Education, Via Christi Hospital Saint Francis, 929 N. Saint Francis St., Room 3082, Wichita, KS 67214, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Helmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, 929 N. Saint Francis St., Room 3082, Wichita, KS 67214, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.affiliation: Via Christi Research, Via Christi Hospitals Wichita, 1100 N. Saint Francis St., Suite 300, Wichita, KS 67214, USA.
authors.forename: Beryl
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Silkey
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, 929 N. Saint Francis St., Room 3082, Wichita, KS 67214, USA.
authors.forename: Therese E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cusick
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, 929 N. Saint Francis St., Room 3082, Wichita, KS 67214, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Osland
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, 929 N. Saint Francis St., Room 3082, Wichita, KS 67214, USA. Electronic address: clarkkl@wsspa.com.
authors.forename: Alex D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ammar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013044:Specialty Boards
keywords: Medical student examinations; Oral examinations; Surgery shelf; Surgical examinations