[Novel admission procedure for medical students leads to equal opportunities for the individuals-but may aggravate the shortage of rural doctors].

Background: In 2017, the Federal Constitutional Court ruled several aspects of the German student admission process unconstitutional. Consequently, the waiting time quota was replaced by an aptitude quota in 2020. Students are now allowed to simultaneously apply to all German medical faculties and an adjustment algorithm for school leaving grades from different federal states was introduced.

[Integration of natural sciences and basic medical subjects in the integrated dentistry program (iMED DENT) at the University of Hamburg].

In October 2019, an integrated dentistry program (iMED DENT) was implemented at the University of Hamburg and was the first of its kind in Germany. This model curriculum builds on didactic concepts that have been applied successfully for many years in curricula for human medicine, including interdisciplinary teaching, early clinical experience, and scientific education. The first year focuses on the healthy situation ("normal function") and aims to integrate the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics) and the basic medical subjects (anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, medical terminology) in the context of dental health.

German Physicians and Medical Students Do Not Represent the Population They Serve.

Medical professionals who represent the communities they serve are in a better position to understand patients' social circumstances and communicate in a more patient-centered way. International studies show limited diversity and underrepresentation of certain social groups in the population of physicians and medical students. We designed an observational study to investigate the cultural and socio-economic diversity of physicians and medical applicants in comparison to the general population in Germany.

Can Different Admissions to Medical School Predict Performance of Non-Technical Skill Performance in Simulated Clinical Settings?

Non-technical skills (NTS) in medical care are essential to ensure patient safety. Focussing on applicants' NTS during medical school admission could be a promising approach to ensure that future physicians master NTS at a high level. Next to pre-university educational attainment, many selection tests have been developed worldwide to facilitate and standardise the selection process of medical students.

Exploring the relationships between first impressions and MMI ratings: a pilot study.

The phenomenon of first impression is well researched in social psychology, but less so in the study of OSCEs and the multiple mini interview (MMI). To explore its bearing on the MMI method we included a rating of first impression in the MMI for student selection executed 2012 at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany (196 applicants, 26 pairs of raters) and analyzed how it was related to MMI performance ratings made by (a) the same rater, and (b) a different rater. First impression was assessed immediately after an applicant entered the test room.

Reliability and validity of new online selection tests for midwifery students.

Background And Objective: Newly created midwifery bachelor programmes attract an increasing number of applicants. Hence, educators have moved away from traditional non-standardised selection methods and started developing new tools for the admission of students. Researchers have expressed concerns around the validity of such selection measures and their ability to identify the appropriate candidates.

On the attractiveness of working as a GP and rural doctor including admission pathways to medical school - results of a German nationwide online survey among medical students in their "Practical Year".

One of the aims of the German student selection network (Studierendenauswahl-Verbund, stav) is to review existing procedures for selecting medical students and to relate their effectiveness to students' career aspirations as well as to their further careers. Against the background of changes in the selection procedures and the introduction of the rural doctor quota (Landarztquote), the study conducted here aims at contributing to the current discussion on the future of GP (general practitioners) care, especially in rural areas. In 2019 and 2020, the stav conducted a German nationwide online survey among medical students towards the end of their "Practical Year" (Praktisches Jahr, final-year medical students in practical training).

[Personality traits in anesthesiology : Results from a questionnaire-based requirements analysis].

Background: Criteria for the identification of suitable applicants for undergraduate and postgraduate medical education are greatly and ubiquitously discussed. Apart from the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, certain personality traits are necessary for practicing the medical profession; however, little is known on the personality traits required for medical subspecialties. This study had two objectives: 1) identification and evaluation of personality traits which are essential for performing anesthesiology and 2) establishment of a job specification for anesthesiology.

Exploring sociodemographic subgroup differences in multiple mini-interview (MMI) performance based on MMI station type and the implications for the predictive fairness of the Hamburg MMI.

Background: Sociodemographic subgroup differences in multiple mini-interview (MMI) performance have been extensively studied within the MMI research literature, but heterogeneous findings demand a closer look at how specific aspects of MMI design (such as station type) affect these differences. So far, it has not been investigated whether sociodemographic subgroup differences imply that an MMI is biased, particularly in terms of its predictive validity.

Methods: Between 2010 and 2017, the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) tested 1438 candidates in an MMI who also provided sociodemographic data and agreed to participate in this study.

Anaesthesiology students' Non-Technical skills: development and evaluation of a behavioural marker system for students (AS-NTS).

Background: Non-Technical Skills (NTS) are becoming more important in medical education. A lack of NTS was identified as a major reason for unsafe patient care, favouring adverse events and team breakdown. Therefore, the training of NTS should already be implemented in undergraduate teaching.

Selection and academic success of medical students in Hamburg, Germany.

Background: Student selection at Hamburg medical school is based on the combination of a natural science knowledge test (HAM-Nat) and pre-university educational attainment.

Method: Of the 1565 medical students enrolled in Hamburg from 2012 to 2015 about half were admitted by an entrance test, half by quotas. First, we analysed sociodemographic determinants of entrance test performance.

2018 Ottawa consensus statement: Selection and recruitment to the healthcare professions.

Selection and recruitment into healthcare education and practice is a key area of interest for educators with significant developments in research, policy, and practice in recent years. This updated consensus statement, developed through a multi-stage process, examines future opportunities and challenges in selection and recruitment. There is both a gap in the literature around and a compelling case for further theoretical and empirical literature to underpin the development of overall selection philosophes and policies and their enactment.

Validity evidence for the Hamburg multiple mini-interview.

Background: Multiple mini-interviews (MMI) become increasingly popular for the selection of medical students. In this work, we examine the validity evidence for the Hamburg MMI.

Methods: We conducted three follow-up studies for the 2014 cohort of applicants to medical school over the course of two years.

[Selection of medical students : Measurement of cognitive abilities and psychosocial competencies].

The German Constitutional Court is currently reviewing whether the actual study admission process in medicine is compatible with the constitutional right of freedom of profession, since applicants without an excellent GPA usually have to wait for seven years. If the admission system is changed, politicians would like to increase the influence of psychosocial criteria on selection as specified by the Masterplan Medizinstudium 2020.What experiences have been made with the actual selection procedures? How could Situational Judgement Tests contribute to the validity of future selection procedures to German medical schools?High school GPA is the best predictor of study performance, but is more and more under discussion due to the lack of comparability between states and schools and the growing number of applicants with top grades.

Correcting the predictive validity of a selection test for the effect of indirect range restriction.

Background: The validity of selection tests is underestimated if it is determined by simply calculating the predictor-outcome correlation found in the admitted group. This correlation is usually attenuated by two factors: (1) the combination of selection variables which can compensate for each other and (2) range restriction in predictor and outcome due to the absence of outcome measures for rejected applicants.

Methods: Here we demonstrate the logic of these artifacts in a situation typical for student selection tests and compare four different methods for their correction: two formulas for the correction of direct and indirect range restriction, expectation maximization algorithm (EM) and multiple imputation by chained equations (MICE).

Are Exam Questions Known in Advance? Using Local Dependence to Detect Cheating.

Cheating is a common phenomenon in high stakes admission, licensing and university exams and threatens their validity. To detect if some exam questions had been affected by cheating, we simulated how data would look like if some test takers possessed item preknowledge: Responses to a small number of items were set to correct for 1-10% of test takers. Item difficulty, item discrimination, item fit, and local dependence were computed using an IRT 2PL model.

Acquisition of dental skills in preclinical technique courses: influence of spatial and manual abilities.

Sixty years of research have not added up to a concordant evaluation of the influence of spatial and manual abilities on dental skill acquisition. We used Ackerman's theory of ability determinants of skill acquisition to explain the influence of spatial visualization and manual dexterity on the task performance of dental students in two consecutive preclinical technique courses. We measured spatial and manual abilities of applicants to Hamburg Dental School by means of a multiple choice test on Technical Aptitude and a wire-bending test, respectively.

Introduction of the HAM-Nat examination--applicants and students admitted to the Medical Faculty in 2012-2014.

Background/aim: In the 2012/13 winter semester, the Magdeburg Medical Faculty introduced a test of knowledge for the selection of applicants. The Hamburg Assessment Test for Medicine - Natural Sciences (HAM-Nat) comprises a multiple-choice test with questions on the aspects of biology, physics, chemistry and mathematics relevant to medicine, which was specifically developed for the selection of medicine applicants. The aim is to study how the HAM-Nat influences student selection, the reasons why students decide to take the test as part of their application procedure and what expectations they have of their course of study.

Prediction of practical performance in preclinical laboratory courses - the return of wire bending for admission of dental students in Hamburg.

Although some recent studies concluded that dexterity is not a reliable predictor of performance in preclinical laboratory courses in dentistry, they could not disprove earlier findings which confirmed the worth of manual dexterity tests in dental admission. We developed a wire bending test (HAM-Man) which was administered during dental freshmen's first week in 2008, 2009, and 2010. The purpose of our study was to evaluate if the HAM-Man is a useful selection criterion additional to the high school grade point average (GPA) in dental admission.

Cutting costs of multiple mini-interviews - changes in reliability and efficiency of the Hamburg medical school admission test between two applications.

Background: Multiple mini-interviews (MMIs) are a valuable tool in medical school selection due to their broad acceptance and promising psychometric properties. With respect to the high expenses associated with this procedure, the discussion about its feasibility should be extended to cost-effectiveness issues.

Methods: Following a pilot test of MMIs for medical school admission at Hamburg University in 2009 (HAM-Int), we took several actions to improve reliability and to reduce costs of the subsequent procedure in 2010.

The Hamburg selection procedure for dental students - introduction of the HAM-Nat as subject-specific test for study aptitude.

Introduction: The present study examines the question whether the selection of dental students should be based solely on average school-leaving grades (GPA) or whether it could be improved by using a subject-specific aptitude test.

Methods: The HAM-Nat Natural Sciences Test was piloted with freshmen during their first study week in 2006 and 2007. In 2009 and 2010 it was used in the dental student selection process.

Audio podcasts in practical courses in biochemistry - cost-efficient e-learning in a well-proven format from radio broadcasting.

Introduction: Audio podcasts are an e-learning format that may help to motivate students to deal with the contents of medical education more intensely. We adopted a well-proven format from radio broadcasting, the radio documentary, to direct the listeners' attention to information about practical courses in biochemistry over a period of 20 minutes at most. Information, original sounds, and a specific atmosphere allow listeners to perceive the contents intensely.