Correlates of clinical performance during medical school

Many efforts have been made to define the complex factors related to successful clinical performance and to determine relationships among them. This study was an attempt to increase the understanding of cognitive and noncognitive attributes of clinical performance. Intercorrelations among overall clinical performance ratings, quarterly comprehensive examination scores, total scores on the Part II examination of the National Board of Medical Examiners, and overall grade-point average were computed for a graduating class of medical students. Aspects of clinical performance pertaining to information, concepts, skills, ingenuity, and conscientiousness were found to correlate with academic achievement as measured by grades and cognitive tests; however, such a correlation was not found for other aspects pertaining to attitude, peer relations, maturity, patient rapport, and integrity.