Do first- and second-year preclinical course scores predict student performance during the surgical clerkship?

The study proposed to determine if a preclinical basic science index comprised of anatomy, behavioral medicine, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, and physiology courses or any one of these basic science courses would predict student performance during surgical clerkship. The basic science index demonstrated a correlation of 0.55 and 0.35 with the individual student's written and oral clerkship scores, respectively. A stepwise multiple regression using a backward stepping algorithm was applied; the dependent variables were oral and written clerkship scores, and the independent variables were the basic science courses. Microbiology, pathology, and physiology course scores were predictors of written score (R = 0.60). Pathology course scores were the sole predictor of oral score (R = 0.43). Medical student basic science performance was not a strong forecaster of performance on the surgical clerkship. The pathology basic science score was the only consistent predictor of performance on the written and oral evaluations given at the end of the clerkship.