N. N. Alamiri1, C. M. Maliska1, H. Chancellor-Macintosh1, G. Sclabas1 1University Of Oklahoma Health Science Center,College Of Medicine In Tulsa – Department Of Surgery,Tulsa, OK, USA
Introduction:
Third year medical students (MS-III) and second year physician assistant students (PA-S) have similar core clinical rotations during their education. Uniquely at our institution, both groups rotate together and are assessed by the same evaluation and grading standards. This study compares the performance of MS-III and PA-S during their combined surgical clerkship rotation.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis on students’ final clerkship grades, individual grades for Clinical Performance Evaluation (CPE), Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), faculty tutorials, and National Board of Medical Education general surgery examination (NBME) for academic years 2013 and 2014.
Results:
A total of 95 students were included, 51 MS-III and 44 PA-S. Between both groups’ final grades and OSCE scores, there was no significant statistical difference (p > 0.05). However, MS-III as compared to PA-S had significantly higher CPE, NBME, and tutorial scores (p < 0.05). In comparing 2013 to 2014 MS-III classes, no significant difference existed, but the 2014 PA-S class had a significantly higher NBME and tutorial scores as compared to 2013 PA-S class.
Conclusion:
MS-III performed better in tests evaluating medical knowledge, possibly a reflection of a more intense basic science education MS-III receive. No significant difference in clinical performance was found. This could be attributed to similar clinical education both receive as well as PA-S often have a history of prior professional health care experience. Over the time of the study, PA- S basic science education seemed to improve.