Evaluating student performance in a decentralized basic science program

The results of the evaluation of the basic science curriculum in a regionalized medical education program in the states of Washington, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WAMI) are presented and discussed. The hypothesis that students taking the first quarter of basic science at universities remote from the Unversity of Washington School of Medicine (UWSM) will be no different in academic performance from those who remain at the UWSM is tested. The variables considered were student performance on (a) common tests in Anatomy/Histology, Biochemistry, Mechanisms of Physiology, and Epidemiology; (b) subsequent course work at the UWSM; and (c) the mini-tests and Part I of the examinations of the National Board of Medical Examiners. The developement of the common tests is described. Analysis of variance indicates that the null hypothesis cannot be rejected at the .05 level.