The OB/GYN clerkship rotation sequence. Does it affect performance on final examinations?

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the timing of the obstetric/gynecologic (OB/GYN) clerkship affects the final grade achieved. STUDY DESIGN: The final examination grades on the OB/GYN clerkship for 165 students over a three-year period were compared according to when in the year the clerkship was taken. Premedical Medical College Admission Test scores (MCAT) were used to determine the academic potential of each clerkship group. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant correlation between the MCAT scores and the National Board of Medical Examiners clerkship examination score (r =.22, P <.005). No differences were found in the clerkship examination scores for students doing their rotations early or late in the third year. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that students with similar academic potential will do equally well on OB/GYN clerkship examinations whether they take their rotation early or late in the third year of medical school.