Medical Students Who Do Not Practice Prior to Taking Clinical Skill Examinations - Sex Differences in Students’ Practical Examinations Scores -

抄録

Objective: A few students fail the medical practical examinations every year, due to a lack of practice and academic dishonesty. The present report analyzed practical examination scores received by male and female students, and investigated score differences between the sexes and possible underlying causes, to support development of improvement measures.
Materials: The subjects were 351 second- (248 males and 103 females), 346 third- (248 males and 98 females), and 289 fourth- (197 males and 92 females) year students of the Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine as of 2011 to 2013.
Methods: Students were assessed using their practical examination performance scores. Students’ grades were expressed as the mean accuracy rate, and the mean comprehensive score. The grades of the male and female students were compared and analyzed.
Results: The rate of male students who failed the examination was higher in all school years. The mean accuracy rate and comprehensive score among female students in all school years were significantly higher compared with male students.
Conclusions: Female students received higher scores on preclinical phase-practical examinations conducted by the university than male students, because some male students did not sufficiently practice prior to taking the tests. Therefore, as a future challenge, it will be necessary to establish stricter standards for advancement to the next grade, and to develop and implement education methods to increase the motivation of students whose behaviors are unprofessional.