Relationships between scores on the COMLEX-USA Level 2-Performance Evaluation and selected school-based performance measures
Baker, H.H.; Cope, M.K.; Adelman, M.D.; Schuler, S.; Foster, R.W.; Gimpel, J.R.
Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 106(5): 290-295
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0098-6151 PMID: 16717372 Document Number: 603861
The Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination USA Level 2 Performance Evaluation (COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE) is a national multistation performance examination designed to examine students' osteopathic clinical skills. The current study examines the relationship between achievement levels on the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE and selected school-related variables for the class of 2005 at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, WVa (N=70). Significant (P<.01) correlations between the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE summary performance and selected academic achievement measures include: weighted Physical Diagnosis grade, 0.41; weighted year 1 and year 2 Osteopathic Principles and Practice grade, 0.37: overall year 2 grade point average, 0.42; the objective structured clinical evaluation (OSCE) Physical Examination score, 0.40; and the OSCE Total Station score, 0.33. While further research is needed, the current study found modest but notable relationships between school-generated academic variables and performance on the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE, and therefore supports the validity of the COMLEX-USA Level 2-PE examination for assessing the clinical skills of future osteopathic physicians.