[Had luck? Lucky charms in the first medical propaedeutics]

The relevance of using lucky charms in the examination room has not been well studied. In this analysis the frequency and results of using lucky charms have been determined in a group of medical students (n = 676) sitting the first examination in the medical curriculum (first propaedeutics). Approximately 10% of all candidates took lucky charms with them into the examination room. Lucky charms were worn significantly more often by female examinees than by males. However, examination results were not significantly better among charm wearers than those without. The commonest charms were in the form of ladybirds or pigs, most of the other 27 also being animal representations.