Correlations between Medical Students National Admission Test Score, Preclinical and Clinical Year Mean Cumulative GPA and UKDI Score

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether medical students' national admission test scores correlated with their preclinical and clinical year GPAs. We also sought to correlate their national admission test scores and GPAs with the Indonesian Medical Doctor Competency Examination (UKDI) score. Method: A retrospective cohort study was done based on past medical students' record. Samples were students admitted to the medical school commencing 2006 (after Competency-based Curriculum was implemented) and had passed their first-time UKDI. Data collection was conducted on medical school of four public universities who agreed to provide the data of their medical students' data. Correlation between variables was analyzed using a two- tailed Pearson correlation for normally distributed data, and Spearman's rho for non-normal distribution. Result: We found significant correlation between preclinical year GPA with basic math (r=0.31), with English (r=0.35; r=0.38), with Chemistry (r=0.20) and with physic (r=0.20). Clinical year GPA had a significant correlation with natural science math (r=-0.20), with chemistry (r= 0.17) and with English (r = 0.12; r = 0.29). UKDI score was correlated with Biology (r = 0.29), with Physic (r = 0.20; r = 0.11), and with chemistry (r = 0.11). UKDI score also had significant correlation with clinical year GPA (r = 0.45; r = 0.23; r = 0.26). UKDI score was significantly correlated with preclinical year GPA and the result was consistent on all medical schools; Andalas students (r = 0.40), Brawijaya students (r = 0.49), Hasanuddin students (r = 0.37), and Sriwijaya students (r = 0.45). Conclusion: National admission test scores were significantly correlated with preclinical and clinical year GPAs, and with UKDI scores, but the correlations were seen only on certain medical schools. Preclinical year GPA was significantly correlated with UKDI score and the result was consistent on all medical schools.