Home > Abstract Details > The Effect of a 6-week vs 4-week Clerkship on NBME Shelf Scores in Obstetrics and Gynecology

« Back to Search

The Effect of a 6-week vs 4-week Clerkship on NBME Shelf Scores in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Purpose: To determine the effect of a 6-week vs 4-week clerkship on NBME shelf scores in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Background: A medical school wide curriculum change took place at Penn State College of Medicine during the 2017-2018 academic year to increase longitudinal and integrated learning.  The OB/GYN clerkship was shortened to 4 weeks and placed into a fifteen-week block with other rotations.  OB/GYN students continued to rotate through three clinical sites.  Shelf exams, previously given at clerkship conclusion, were then administered in the final week of the block.  

Methods: A retrospective review of NBME shelf scores for our Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship was performed for academic years 2015-2017 and compared to those from academic year 2017-2018.  Student scores were collected and de-identified.  Mean scores were then obtained for each six-week rotation in 2015-2017 as well as the 4-week rotation school year.  

Results: A comparison of 4-week versus 6-week shelf scores at each site showed a significant decrease of 2.16 in the shelf scores at Hershey during the 4-week rotation (P=0.03).  Harrisburg Hospital scores decreased by 0.31 (P=0.83) while York scores increased by 2.23 (P=0.21) during 4-week rotations.  However, a decrease in overall mean shelf score in 4-week scores compared to 6-week scores across all sites by 0.08 was not significant (P=0.93).

Discussions: Analysis of the shelf scores across all of the 4-week rotations following curriculum change revealed no significant difference in mean scores when compared to the 6-week rotations.  However, there was a site-specific significant decrease in mean scores at our main hospital.  

Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2019, Student, Faculty, Clerkship Director, Clerkship Coordinator, Medical Knowledge, UME, Assessment,

General Information


Intended
Audience
Student,Faculty,Clerkship Director,Clerkship Coordinator,
Competencies
Addressed
Medical Knowledge,
Educational
Continuum
UME,
Educational
Focus
Assessment,
Clinical Focus

Author Information

Samantha Nguyen, MD, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Jaimie Maines, MD

Additional Materials


Related Abstracts


Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics

2130 Priest Bridge Drive, Suite 7, Crofton, MD 21114

410-451-9560

APGO logo

Follow Us


COPYRIGHT © 2020
Association of Professors of
Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO)