title: An investigation of the relationship between ethnicity and success in a BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy degree programme in the UK.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the potential relationship between ethnicity and achievement within undergraduate physiotherapy education.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of assessment marks awarded for academic and clinical modules.
  
  
  METHODS
  A London University offering undergraduate physiotherapy education.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred forty-eight undergraduate students enrolled onto the Physiotherapy honours degree programme between 2005 and 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Marks awarded following academic or clinical assessment. These were modelled through multivariable regression analysis to evaluate the relationship between marks awarded and ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences were noted between ethnic categories in final programme success and across academic and clinical modules. Our multivariable analysis demonstrated students from Asian backgrounds had decreased odds of succeeding compared with white British students (adjusted OR 0.43 95%CI 0.24, 0.79 P=0.006), as had Black students (adjusted OR 0.42 95%CI 0.19, 0.95 P=0.036) and students from Other ethnic backgrounds (adjusted OR 0.41 95%CI 0.20, 0.87 P=0.020).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis of undergraduate physiotherapy students illustrated a persistent difference in attainment between students from white British and those from BME backgrounds. Heterogeneity in academic outcomes both within and between minority ethnic groups was illustrated. This study not only reinforces the need to consider ethnicity within physiotherapy education but also raises further questions about why physiotherapy students from BME groups perform less well than their white British peers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Annabel.williams@brunel.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Annabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Meriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care and Population Health, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marston
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shiers
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty / Q000193:education*; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013334:Students; D006113:United Kingdom; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Education; Ethnicity; Physiotherapy