Surgical clerkship: Do examination scores correlate with clinical performance?

Background: This study aims to determine if there are correlations between clinical performance and objective grading parameters for medical students in the third-year surgery clerkship.

Methods: Clerkship grades were compiled from 2016 to 2020. Performance on clinical rotations, NBME shelf exam, oral exam, and weekly quizzes were reviewed. Students were divided into quartiles (Q1-Q4) based on clinical performance. Standard statistical analysis was performed.

Results: There were 625 students included in the study. Students in Q1+Q2 were more likely than those in Q3+Q4 to score in the top quartile on the shelf exam (29% vs. 19%, p = 0.002), oral exam (24% vs. 17%, p = 0.032), and quizzes (22% vs. 15%, p = 0.024). However, there was negligible correlation between clinical performance and performance on objective measures: shelf exam (R² = 0.027, p < 0.001), oral exam (R² = 0.021, p < 0.001), and weekly quizzes (R² = 0.053, p = 0.092).

Conclusions: Clinical performance does not correlate with objective grading parameters for medical students in the third-year surgery clerkship.