The Correlation of Acceptability Index (AI) between Medical teacher and Borderline group of Fourth-year Medical Student at Radiology Department

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the correlation of “acceptability index” (AI) for Nedelsky method from

medical teachers with AI from actual borderline medical students and difficulty index (DI).

Method: A prospective study was conducted in the academic year 2012. Eighty fourth-year medical

students from 3 groups of rotations in radiology were invited to define AI by Nedelsky

method for 100 multiple-choice questions (MCQs). AI of borderline medical students in 3

groups was assessed their correlation with AI from medical teachers. Additionally, DI from

item analysis was also considered.

Results: Nineteen borderline medical students were identified. The correlation coefficients (r) of AI

from medical teachers and borderline medical students were 0.23 (p<0.001), 0.01 (p=0.93)

and 0.12 (p=0.10), and correspond to the correlation values of AI from medical teachers and

DI of 0.24 (p=0.001), 0.06 (p=0.455) and 0.23 (p=0.003) in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

While the correlation coefficient (r) between AI from borderline medical students in groups 1,

2 and 3 and DI omit: in each their group (unnecessary) were 0.45 (p<0.001), 0.61 (p<0.001)

and 0.53 (p<0.001), respectively.

Conclusions: The correlation of AI from medical teachers with borderline medical students and DI

was rather poor whereas AI from borderline medical students showed fairly good

associations with DI.

Keywords: Acceptability index, Nedelsky method, borderline students