Academic performance of psychiatrists compared to other specialists before, during, and after medical school.

Publication/Presentation Date

8-1-2004

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare psychiatrists with other physicians on measures of academic performance before, during, and after medical school.

METHOD: More than three decades of data for graduates of Jefferson Medical College (N=5,701) were analyzed. Those who pursued psychiatry were compared to physicians in seven other specialties on 18 performance measures. Analysis of covariance was used to control for gender effect.

RESULTS: Compared to other physicians, psychiatrists scored higher on measures of verbal ability and general information before medical school and on evaluations of knowledge and skills in behavioral sciences during medical school, but they scored lower on United States Medical Licensing Examinations step 3.

CONCLUSIONS: The results generally confirmed the authors' expectations about psychiatrists' academic performance. More attention should be paid to the general medical education of psychiatrists.

Volume

161

Issue

8

First Page

1477

Last Page

1482

ISSN

0002-953X

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

15285976

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

Share

COinS