Relationship Between Student Age, Academic Performance, and NBRC Self-Assessment Exam Scores in an Accelerated Associate Degree Respiratory Care Program

Abstract

Background: Although there are more AS degree programs in the US, research into the academic success of respiratory care students has primarily focused on the baccalaureate level respiratory care programs. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between student age, academic performance, and the National Board for Respiratory Care Secure Self-Assessment Exam (NBRC SAE) scores in an accelerated associate degree respiratory care program.

Methods: This retrospective study used existing student records from the Department of Respiratory Therapy at Concorde Career College in San Antonio. Student records and demographics were collected from 37 students enrolled from 2016 through 2020. Age, student scores on RT 210, RT 250, and NBRC Secure SAE were collected from the student records to determine the relationship between student academic performance in the RT 210 and RT 250 courses as well as NBRC SAE. A Pearson product-moment correlation was performed to determine the relationship between age and academic performance. The P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: There is no significant correlation between age and students’ academic performance in RT 210 (P = 0.43), RT 250 (P = 0.86), and the NBRC SAE (0.79). The results of this study reveal a positive correlation between the RT 210 and RT 250 course grades (r = 0.725, P < 0.001) as well as between the NBRC SAE and the students’ grades in RT 210 (r = 0.744, P < 0.001) and RT 250 (r = 0.789, P < 0.001). For example, the correlation between the RT 210 grade and RT 250 grade was 0.725 (P < 0.001) indicating that students’ grade in RT 210 (r = 0.725, P < 0.001) was responsible for 52% of the variation in the RT 250 grade. Similarly, the grade obtained in RT 210 (r = 0.744, P < 0.001) accounts for 55% of the variation in the NBRC SAE score. The findings of this study also revealed that 62% of the variation in students’ NBRC SAE scores can be explained by their grade in RT 250 (r = 0.789, P < 0.001).

Conclusions: There is a positive correlation between students’ performance in RT 210 and RT 250 as well as students’ grades in these courses and the NBRC Secure SAE. No relationship was found between student age and academic performance in an accelerated associate degree respiratory care program.