Feasibility of a Readiness Exam for Predicting Radiography Program Success: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Research investigating predictors of academic success in rigorous health science education is valuable for curricular intervention for identified at-risk students. Various predictors of success have been investigated, but the literature is insufficient when examining anatomy and physiology readiness scores as they correlate to radiography curricular success. This pilot study assessed the correlation between readiness exam scores and programmatic course GPA to determine if the scores could be used as a metric for identifying academic success resources for incoming students. Cohorts of the radiography program at a midwestern health sciences center demonstrated a longitudinal trend of difficulty with anatomy and physiology programmatic coursework. Therefore, researchers set out to investigate whether or not readiness exam scores, in addition to the metrics they were already utilizing, could be used as a tool for early academic remediation. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if the anatomy and physiology readiness exam scores would be reliable indicators of programmatic success in anatomy and physiology program coursework. Design: This investigation occurred in two phases: a retrospective correlational phase and a quasi-experimental phase. Methods: Retrospective data from cohorts that matriculated between 2013 and 2017 (n=91) was collected and de-identified. Data included prerequisite grade point average (GPA) and grades from anatomy and physiology course taken during the program. During the quasi-experimental phase, a sample of students (n=18) completed a readiness examination. The scores from this examination were correlated with prerequisite GPA and program anatomy and physiology GPA. Results: Data analysis revealed prerequisite GPA and the anatomy and physiology section of the readiness examination to be strong and moderate predictors of programmatic anatomy and physiology course grades, respectively. Conclusion: Predictors of curricular success in a radiography program’s anatomy and physiology coursework are essential factors to consider in relation to admissions practices, curricular prerequisite standards, and on-boarding of new students, especially those identified as at-risk.

Student selection in radiography education. A narrative review

“…The results reveal that there was no single selection method that was most frequently used; instead, different combinations of selection methods were used amongst the universities. 25,26,34 The results are in the line with previous studies which have identified a huge variety in radiography student selection methods. 6,7,9 This result may indicate that there is no common understanding of what should be assessed in radiography student selection.…”

“…However, it needs to be noted that these results were based on three studies. 25,27,28 Moreover, the factors from the categories of personality traits, social skills, and career choice were not related to study success. The reason for this may be that there were only few studies that reported the assessment of these factors.…”

“…27 Furthermore, mathematics, physics, biology, anatomy, and physiology and a composite of factors comprising electronics and a composite of factors comprising mechanics were statistically significant predictors of study success. 25,27,28 The statistically significant correlation r-values varied between 0.285 and 0.842.…”

“…Five studies investigated selection factors and study success focusing on students' grades. 25,26,27,28,29 The total number of students was 7,861, varying between 90 and 6443 students per study. Two studies informed the number of programs participating in the studies, one 45 and the other 327 programs.…”

“…These factors were mathematics, physics, biology, anatomy, physiology, natural sciences, a composite of factors comprising electronics (arithmetic reasoning, math knowledge, electronics information, and general science) and a composite of factors comprising mechanics (mechanical comprehension, general science and auto and shop information). Four selection methods, namely ASVAB, PSB Test, GPA and Readiness examination, were used to measure these factors, and study success was measured as program GPA or final grade, 26,27,28 course grades 25,27 and certification examination. 27 Furthermore, mathematics, physics, biology, anatomy, and physiology and a composite of factors comprising electronics and a composite of factors comprising mechanics were statistically significant predictors of study success.…”