Purpose: Evaluate
gender differences in academic performance within the Obstetrics and Gynecology
Clerkship at the University of Missouri.
Background: Unconscious bias, baseline knowledge or access to opportunities that may
affect students overall performance.
Therefore, making it necessary to evaluate gender differences in
academic performance.
Methods: USMLE Step 1 exams, pre-clinical year’s evaluations, NBME shelf exam
scores, faculty evaluations of students with overall exemplary grades,
clerkship grade distribution were compared from 2013-2017 to determine if there
was a gender difference in academic performance. Student assessment is standardized. First attempt USMLE and NBME scores were
evaluated. An evaluator was included if
they performed more than 6 evaluations.
388 students qualified for the study.
Independent 2 sample t-test was used assuming unequal variances.
Results: Males scored higher on the USMLE Step 1 exam with statistically
significance. There was no difference of
performance within genders during the pre-clinical years. Females scored higher on the NBME shelf exam,
clinical evaluations, faculty assessments and final clerkship grade
evaluations.
Discussions: There
are notable gender differences in academic performance within the Obstetrics
and Gynecology Clerkship, favoring females.
Preexisting personal knowledge and a higher number of females expressing
interest and entering OB/GYN residency may give females a slight advantage over
their male counterparts. Assuming that
standardized assessments demonstrate knowledge gained by students, the results
may reflect that females are gaining more experiences or opportunities during
their clerkship. It is important to critically
review the data to ensure males and females are achieving the same training and
opportunities.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2018, Student, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Residency Director, Residency Coordinator, Medical Knowledge, Systems-Based Practice & Improvement, Practice-Based Learning & Improvement, GME, UME, Assessment, General Ob-Gyn,
Mistie Mills, MD
