Association between Knowledge and Performance in Clerkships and USMLE Step 2 CK Scores: Implications for Counseling and Academic Decision-making

Background Step 2 CK scores are of increasing importance in medical student career planning. In the National Resident Matching Program 2014 Program Director Survey, Step 1 scores were the highest-rated among 33 factors used in screening applicants to be interviewed (94% cited it with a mean rating of 4.1 on a 5 point Likert scale); Step 2 scores were rated fourth in importance (80% cited it, mean rating of 4.1). When citing factors for ranking a given applicant, Step 1 scores ranked 5th (80% cited, with mean rating of 4.1) and Step 2 CK scores ranked 7th (71% cited, with mean rating of 4.1) Previous studies have shown a relationship between Step 2 scores and subsequent board certification, and that women outperformed men in most content areas in Step 2. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between knowledge and performance in clerkships, as measured by final clerkship grade and Step 2 scores after adjusting for background factors, such as preclinical knowledge.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/fmposters/1000/thumbnail.jp