Owens S Christopher, Rainey Yolanda, Tucker Pamela, Edmunds Brian
J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2018;29(1):430-447. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2018.0029.
To meet the expanding need for physical therapists universities are under increasing pressure to enroll, educate, and train physical therapists. Poor academic performance can result in student dismissal from a physical therapy program. The purpose of this study is to determine if implementation of a retention program would improve student academic performance in the foundational science curriculum in a physical therapy program.
A prospective observational cohort design was used. The retention program centered on three approaches: 1. Early identification of at-risk students. 2. Supplemental instruction in Human Anatomy. 3. Offering peer tutoring for the foundational science courses.
A significant association existed between the implementation of the retention program and the reduction of dismissals from the Fall Semester of 2012 to the fall 2013 semesters.
Implementation of a retention program had a beneficial effect on decreasing student dismissals in a physical therapy program.
