Prediction of clinical performance: the role of prior experience

The relationship of life experience prior to the admission to medical school to clinical performance was studied. Age, prior military experience, and educational background were found to be related to clinical performance. Students with recent military experience, former military officers, and those with a science background were found to perform in a way superior to younger and older students, non-officers, and nonscience majors, respectively. While the current study was performed in Israel and under a community-oriented curriculum, its findings tend to support those of research in the United States and were seen as enhancing the understanding of the role of nonintellectual factors in the selection of medical students. The presence of an interest/motivational factor was presented and discussed.