title: Explaining and forecasting attrition in the Army pharmacy technician course.
abstract: The Army pharmacy technician (68Q) course trains--260 students per year, with a mean graduation rate of 71.3%. In support of this course, a research team conducted a study using multiple analytical methods to evaluate, to explain, and potentially to forecast failures, because the 28.7% of students who do not graduate are associated with both opportunity and real costs. Results of this study indicated that largely uncontrollable population demographic characteristics, such as rank and enrollment status, along with controllable Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery skilled technical test scores, were related to graduation rates. The results of this study may be used to assist individuals at risk of failure or to establish additional admission criteria to increase the likelihood of success.
authors.affiliation: Army Medical Department Center and School, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, USA.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: L William
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Starnes
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caouette
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Whittaker
authors.forename: Lana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ivanitskaya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003479:Curriculum; D003710:Demography; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000193:education*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult