Predictors of Success in Dental Hygiene Education: A Follow–Up Study

Sue Tucker Ward; Mary C. Downey; Ana Luz Thompson; Marie A. Collins

Abstract

Purpose: In 2002, a 6 year review of dental hygiene graduates from the Medical College of Georgia (1996 through 2001) was conducted to determine which criteria were the best predictors of success. Success was defined in terms of National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) score and dental hygiene GPA at graduation. The purpose of this follow–up study was to determine if a relationship exists between predicted success (using 2002 models) and actual success of entry–level baccalaureate degree students who graduated from 2002 through 2007.

Methods: Two probability models of success were developed from a previous study of MCG dental hygiene graduates (1996 to 2001). Academic information from students (n=156) in the 2002 to 2007 classes was inserted into the two 2002 models to determine if there was a correlation between their actual and predicted success.

Results: Moderate correlation (r=.581, p=.01) was found when using the established MODEL 1 to predict dental hygiene GPA at graduation and moderate correlation (r=.465, p=.01) was found when using the established MODEL 2 to predict NBDHE scores.

Conclusions: The authors concluded incoming GPA and total SAT® Program score remain useful in predicting the success of students. However, when substituting incoming GPA with dental hygiene GPA at the end of the first year, even stronger correlations resulted in MODEL 1 (r=.957, p=.01) and in MODEL 2 (r=.694, p=.01). Based on these results, recommendations were made to keep current admissions criteria and to implement formal remediation for academically weaker students after completing the first year of the dental hygiene program.

Footnotes

Sue Tucker Ward, RDH, MEd, is assistant professor and clinic coordinator, School of Allied Health Sciences; Mary C. Downey, RDH, MS, is associate professor, Schools of Allied Health Sciences and Graduate Studies; Ana Luz Thompson, RDH, MHE, is associate professor, Schools of Allied Health Sciences and Dentistry; Marie A. Collins, RDH, EdD, is associate professor and department chair, Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, and Graduate Studies; all are in the Department of Dental Hygiene at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.
This study supports the NDHRA priority area, Professional Education and Development—Validate and test measures that evaluate student critical thinking and decision-making skills.