Comparison of clinical pathology examination scores and grade point averages of Royal Thai Army medical cadets.

This retrospective study assesses the relationship between clinical pathology (CP) examination scores and grade point averages (GPAs) of Royal Thai Army (RTA) medical cadets. Altogether, 411 of the third-year RTA medical cadets studying CP at Phramongkutklao College of Medicine in 1995-2001 were included in this study. Correlations between CP examination scores, clinical year GPAs, and cumulative GPAs were analyzed by using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient. The CP scores showed positive correlations (p < 0.01) with GPAs in the clinical years (4th to 6th) of study (r = 0.616, r = 0.602, and r = 0.540) and cumulative GPAs (r = 0.698). These significant findings may be attributable to the integration of small group teaching and case study discussions, together with traditional lectures and laboratory practice, in the CP course. Our results indicate that CP examination scores can be used as a reliable predictor of success in the 6-year course of study for RTA medical cadets.