BACKGROUND: Significant changes in surgical practice have resulted in a ree
xamination of surgical undergraduate education. The increasing emphasis tow
ard ambulatory procedures positions the community hospital as an excellent
alternative site for surgical education. This study compares the quality of
one medical school's surgical education at a principal teaching hospital t
o that of affiliated teaching hospitals.
METHODS: Surgical undergraduate education offered through four programs was
evaluated for 1993 to 1997. Students' performance was objectively rated by
the National Board Examination in surgery, an oral examination, and a clin
ical appraisal, A subjective appraisal was determined via students' clerksh
ip evaluation.
RESULTS: There was a significant difference (P <0.01) in National Board Exa
mination scores and clerkship evaluations that favored some affiliated teac
hing hospitals over the principal teaching hospital.
CONCLUSION: The quality of surgical undergraduate education, documented by
objective testing and subjective perception, indicated that the education o
btained at the affiliated hospitals was at least equivalent to the principa
l teaching hospital, Am J Surg. 2000;179:150-153. (C) 2000 by Excerpta Medi
ca, Inc.