Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2025
Project-Based Learning Guidelines for Health Sciences Students: An Analysis with Data Mining and Qualitative Techniques
Published on: December 9, 2022
Predictors of National Physical Therapy Examination Failure in Graduates of a Blended Doctor of Physical Therapy
Melissa J Lazinski1,2,3, Kathleen Rockefeller1,2,3, M Samuel Cheng1,2,3
1Melissa J. Lazinski, PT, DPT, DHSc is an Associate Professor, University of South Florida, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC-77, Tampa, FL 33612 ( melissalazinski@usf.edu ). Please address all correspondence to Melissa J. Lazinski.
Introduction:
Passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is a necessary step in progressing into a professional career. The purpose of this study was to identify student factors that predicted failure on the first attempt of the NPTE in graduates of a blended Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.
Review Of Literature:
Student factors that may affect NPTE outcomes have been studied in traditional physical therapist education programs but have not been studied in blended programs. Blended instruction is a delivery format that combines distance asynchronous learning and face-to-face synchronous learning in a complementary way.
Subjects:
Two hundred ten graduates from 6 consecutive cohorts of a DPT program taught in a blended format.
Methods:
Retrospective observational cohort design. Demographic, preadmission, and in-program academic data and NPTE pass/fail status were collected. Variables were analyzed with forward stepwise logistic regression for their ability to predict first-time NPTE failure. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted to determine cut points of predictive variables.
Results:
Two regression analyses were conducted. First, an analysis of all variables identified 3 significant predictors: comprehensive examination score, cumulative third-year grade point average, and Graduate Record Examination Verbal Reasoning (GRE-V) score, which explained 43.2% of the variance. The second analysis excluded variables occurring late in matriculation to identify early occurring predictors. This yielded 2 early predictive variables, GRE-V score and academic difficulty, which explained 29.5% of the variance.
Discussion And Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first study of predictors of NPTE outcomes in blended DPT program graduates. Like previous studies, a mix of preadmission and in-program factors predicted first-time NPTE failure. These findings may help inform admissions policies, academic advising processes, and academic warning policies in blended programs. Future research is needed to explore factors unique to blended educational settings and the qualities of the students they attract.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Reliability and Validity
01:25Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy
The Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. The alliance strengthens when the therapist and the client engage in a nurturing, supportive, trusting, empathetic, and respectful relationship, improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapists must monitor this relationship...