Characteristics of graduating medical students who were matched and unmatched to hospital training posts

The purpose of this paper is to examine similarities and differences between graduating medical students who do and do not match through the National Internship and Resident Matching Programme (NIRMP). Data from graduates of 3- and 4-year undergraduate curricula were examined separately. A two way analysis of variance was used; the two independent variables were (1) whether the student was a 3- or 4-year medical graduate, and (2) the students' matched vs unmatched status. The dependent variables used in this study were in the following five categories: (1) demographic and academic performance upon entrance to medical school, (2) academic performance during medical school, (3) future practice preferences projected during medical school, (4) internship/residency choices, and (5) clinical performance during internship/residency. On the basis of the data presented, it is clear that there are few differences between matched and unmatched students that could be detected in over seventy-five measures examined. Within the unmatched group, however, the 3-year graduates differ in some respects from their 4-year colleagues. It is likely, therefore, that a different constellation of factors appears to be operating in these two unmatched groups but not within the matched groups.