Medical school application interview score has limited predictive validity for performance on a fourth year clinical practice examination.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND

AND PURPOSE:
:
Data supporting the predictive validity of the medical school admission interview are mixed. This study tested the hypothesis that the admission interview is predictive of interpersonal interactions between medical students and standardized patients.

METHOD:
:
We determined correlations between admission interview scores and performance on a senior-year Clinical Practice Examination piloting US National Board of Medical Examiners stations. We also completed regression analyses controlling for undergraduate academic performance, gender and ethnicity. Outcome measures included an Interpersonal Skills score and a separate Overall Checklist performance score, completed by standardized patients.

RESULTS:
:
The applicant interview had limited but statistically significant correlation with the Interpersonal Skills (r = 0.15; p < 0.05) score. The applicant interview had a correlation of 0.13 with the Overall Checklist score (p = .056). In linear regression models, the applicant interview had limited but statistically significant correlations with the Interpersonal Skills score and the Overall Checklist score.

CONCLUSION:
:
As practiced at this medical school, the admission interview has limited predictive validity for future interactions with standardized patients. More comprehensive assessment of interpersonal skills during the medical school selection process will be needed in order to better select matriculants with desirable interpersonal skills.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Basco, William T (WT); Lancaster, Carol J (CJ); Gilbert, Gregory E (GE); Carey, Maura E (ME); Blue, Amy V (AV);

Affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. bascob(-atsign-)musc.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Advances in health sciences education : theory and practice (Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract), published in Netherlands. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-May; vol 13 (issue 2) : pp 151-62

Dates: Created 2008/04/09; Completed 2008/07/03;

PMID: 17089077, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Interviews as Topic
Male
Predictive Value of Tests
School Admission Criteria
Schools, Medical - organization & administration
Students, Medical

This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.

See 100+ related articles.