Correlation of performance of students in comprehensive examinations, general weighted average grade to the physician licensure examinations in a medical school with an organ system integrated curriculum

OBJECTIVES:  1. To describe the performance of medical students in comprehensive examinations given after each learning unit or year level.  2. To correlate the scores of the students in the comprehensive examinations to the general weighted average grade (GWAG) for the same learning unit. 3. To correlate the scores in the subject-based part of the comprehensive examinations to the scores in the Physicians Licensure Examination (PLE)   METHODS: The scores of graduates of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine (UPCM) for the years 2009-2011 in the comprehensive examinations, their general weighted average grade per learning unit, and scores in the PLE were retrieved and analyzed. Correlation coefficients of comprehensive examination score and GWAG, and comprehensive examination score and PLE score were computed. RESULTS: A total of 434 out of 463 graduates from UPCM were included in this study. There was no trend observed in the performance of students in the comprehensive examinations as they progressed from one learning unit to the next. Performance in both portions of the comprehensive examinations was observed to have significant correlation to students' LU GWAG for most of the learning units, with the exception of LU 6 and LU 7 for Class B. Performance in the subject-based portion of the comprehensive examinations was observed to have significant correlation to students' PLE scores. CONCLUSIONS: The students' scores in the comprehensive examinations had moderate to strong correlation with the GWAG for the corresponding learning unit. Similarly, scores in the subject-based portion of the comprehensive examination had moderate to strong correlation with PLE scores.

Correlation of National Medical Admission Test scores, general weighted average grade in pre-medicine courses, general weighted average grade in medicine and the Physician Licensure Examination scores among medical graduates of the University of the Philippines Manila-College of Medicine

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine the validity of the National Medical Admissions Test (NMAT) score, Pre-Medicine general weighted average grade (Pre-Med GWAG) in predicting the academic performance in medical school, as measured by the medical school general weighted average grade (Med GWAG) and Physician Licensure Examination (PLE). It also aimed to study which among the NMAT, pre-medicine GWAG and MedGWAG best correlates with PLE. METHODS: Records of graduates of th UPCM from 2004 to 2009 were retrieved and data regardin the following entry characteristics were collected: National Medical Admissions Test (NMAT) scores, pre-Medicine general weighted average grade (MedGWAG). Average and individual subject scores in the PLE were retrieved for this study. Statistical analysis using the Pearson correlation analysis was performed using STATA. RESULTS: The NMAT, MedGWAG and PLE scores of the direct and lateral entrants were not significantly different from each other. There was weak correlation between NMAT and Pre-Med GWAG and weak to moderate correlation between NMAT and Med GWAG. Except for the 2009 graduates where no correlation between NMAT and PLE scores was noted for 2004-2008 graduates. There was moderate to strong correlation between Pre-Med GWAG and Med GWAG and weak correlation between Pre-Med GWAG and PLE scores. There was strong correlation between Med GWAG and PLE scores. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-Med GWAG had higher correlations to Med GWAG than NMAT scores. In Terms of PLE scores, the Medicine GWAG showed the highest correlation followed by Pre-Med GWAG, then NMAT scores.

Refractive changes after horizontal extraocular muscle surgery

A prospective study on the refractive changes after horizontal extraocular muscle surgery was conducted involving 51 eyes of 41 subjects. Three variables were measured: axis, cylinder power, and sphere power up to 30 days postoperatively. The behavior and progression of these variables were also evaluated in the postop period Mean changes in axis and cylinder power were found to be significant between the preop and 1 day postop. Mean changes in sphere power were only significant between the 1 day postop and 15 days postop. Mean changes of the three variables between preop and 30 days postop were not significant. The results showed that the effects of horizontal extraocular muscle surgery on the refractive state were only transient and it decreased over time. (Author)