Surgical clerkship performance of traditional and nontraditional students in a problem-based learning environment

BACKGROUND: To determine whether nontraditional students perform better than traditional students during surgical clerkships as reflected on the surgical clerkship final examination. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical student records from the classes of 1986 through 1993. Students admitted soon after completing undergraduate training were identified as ''traditional,'' and those having prior careers as ''nontraditional.'' RESULTS: There were 150 traditional and 72 nontraditional students. The ratio of men to women and admission MCAT scores were not significantly different. Traditional students were significantly younger and had higher admission grade point averages (GPAs). Nontraditional students were more likely to be married and have children. Final examination scores of traditional and nontraditional students were not significantly different. MCAT scores and college GPAs were the best predictors of final examination performance. Married students performed significantly better than single students. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between nontraditional and traditional student performance on the surgical clerkship final examination.