Abstract
Purpose
This investigation explored the relationship between conscientiousness, as measured by completion of routine tasks, and performance (promotion decisions and the United States Medical Licensing Examination [USMLE] Step 1 performance).
Method
A retrospective, cohort-based design with consenting medical students (n = 251) was used to examine if a noncompliance index (NCI), comprised of completed course evaluations and weekly assessments, predicted overall and competency-specific promotion decisions and USMLE Step 1 performance. Associations among NCI and USMLE Step 1 scores, adjusting for both gender and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score, were explored with multivariable linear regression models. The Wilcoxon rank-sum tests investigated associations among NCI and subsequent promotion decisions.
Results
Unconscientious student behavior during year 1 predicted unfavorable performance in year 2 for overall promotion and adverse competency-specific decisions in professionalism, medical knowledge, and communication skills. Combined year 1 and year 2 NCI scores predicted students placed in remediation in year 2 and years 3 and 5. Each unit increase in year 1 NCI score resulted, on average, with a 1.6-point decrease (95% CI − 2.7 to − 0.5, p = 0.005) in USMLE Step 1 score and, in years 1 and 2, a 1.3-point decrease (NCI Yr1 and 2, 95% CI − 2.0 to − 0.6, p = 0.0005) in USMLE Step 1 score, after adjusting for gender and MCAT. No gender differences were detected in year 1 (p = 0.98) or years 1–2 (p = 0.86) with NCI scores.
Discussion
NCI metrics may provide schools with a feasible, systematic approach to identify and counsel at-risk medical students who do not complete routine administrative tasks.
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Foshee, C.M., Nowacki, A.S., Shivak, J.T. et al. Making Much of the Mundane: A Retrospective Examination of Undergraduate Medical Students’ Completion of Routine Tasks and USMLE Step 1 Performance. Med.Sci.Educ. 28, 351–357 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-018-0552-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-018-0552-3