HomeHealth Sciences Journalvol. 3 no. 1 (2014)

Correlation of internship grades and physical therapy and occupational therapy licensure examination passing rate among physical therapy graduates of a private college in Metro Manila

Mark Francis D. Constantino | Marianne A. Elizaga | Rochelle K. Geronimo | Myca D. Poquiz | Marion Mae M. Tolentino | Jennifer C. Espinosa

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

Background The study is a retrospective correlation between final internship grades and the Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Licensure Examination results of BS Physical Therapy graduates. The study aimed to determine the probability of physical therapy graduates passing the board examination based on their performance in internship.

Methods Seventy two physical therapy graduates from a college in Metro Manila covering three batches from 2010 to 2012 were included. The final internship grades and the Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Licensure Examination results were correlated by the use of the Pearson Product Moment Correlation. Odds ratio was used to provide additional information about the passing rates of the examinees.

Results Only 2% of graduates who passed their internship failed in the board examination while 32% of those who failed their internship failed their first attempt in the board examination. This led to a moderate positive correlation of 0.530 (P = 0.001). In addition, odds ratio predicted that students who passed their internship were nearly 23 times more likely to pass the board examination.

Conclusion The study showed that there was positive correlation between final internship grades and Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Licensure Examination results. Based on the findings, a physical therapy graduate obtaining a passing grade in the internship academics may predict a positive performance the board examination.