Usefulness of the Grade-Point Average for Required Subjects to Predict Withdrawal from the Faculty of Physical Therapy - A 4-year Observational Study -

Abstract

[Objective] This observational study examined the usefulness of the grade-point average for required subjects (GPA-RS) to predict withdrawal from the Faculty of Physical Therapy. [Subjects and Methods] A total of 179 students, who had enrolled in the Faculty of Physical Therapy within a 4-year period, were classified into 2 groups: 145 who had graduated (graduated group); and 34 who had withdrawn (withdrawal group), to compare their GPAs-RS during each semester. Based on the ROC curve, a cutoff was adopted to calculate reliability. [Results] The GPAs-RS of the graduated and withdrawal groups during each semester were as follows (median, interquartile range): S1: 2.17（1.92-2.42）and 1.75（1.50-2.25）; S2: 2.36（2.10-2.55）and 1.82（1.63-2.10）; S3: 2.14（1.86-2.50）and 1.07（0.21-1.50; S4: 2.22（1.91-2.61）and 0.91（0.57-1.78; S5: 2.54（2.31-2.77）and 1.77（1.35-2.23）; and S6: 2.50（2.25-2.75）and 1.63（1.10-2.27）, respectively; the former showed significantly higher values. Similarly, the cutoff and reliability during each semester were as follows: S1: 2.10 and 76.7%; S2: 1.95 and 85.7%; S3: 1.45 and 90.2%; S4: 1.68 and 91.0%; S5: 2.28 and 80.0%; and S6: 2.20 and 75.8%, respectively. [Conclusion] The GPA-RS may be useful to predict withdrawal from the Faculty of Physical Therapy, with a reliability of 75.8 to 91.0%.