First-year medical student objective structured clinical exam performance and specialty choice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine if first-year physical exam and interview Objective Structured Clinical Examination scores differ for medical students entering person or technique-oriented specialties. Objective Structured Clinical Examination physical exam and interview scores from 2004 to 2007 for first-year medical students (n=280) at one United States medical school were compared using t-tests based on specialty choice from this cohort of students. T-test results (p<0.05) showed a significant difference in the mean physical exam (mean=92.85, sd=3.94) versus interview (mean=90.77, sd=6.76) scores for students entering person-oriented specialties (n=157, p<0.001). There was also a significant difference (p<0.05) in the mean physical exam (mean=93.46, sd=3.92) versus interview (mean=91.40, sd=5.75) scores for students entering technique-oriented specialties (n=123, p<0.001). Results indicate that physical exam scores are significantly higher than interview scores for students regardless of whether they enter person or technique-oriented specialties, except for psychiatry where interview scores were significantly higher than physical exam scores. Subsequent studies are needed to better understand the relationship of Objective Structured Clinical Examination performance and specialty choice by medical students. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]