title: Relating admissions criteria to dental hygiene student retention.
abstract: PURPOSE. The purpose of this study was to identify preadmission variables that relate to dental hygiene student retention. METHODS. An online survey was sent by email to 309 dental hygiene chairs/program directors. The survey comprised 18 questions to collect program demographic information, program admissions requirements, and program student retention rates. RESULTS. There were 139 respondents who participated in the survey for a 45% return rate. The mean for program retention of participating accredited dental hygiene programs was 91%. Stepwise regression analysis discovered three independent variables (aE=0.15) that relate to dental hygiene program retention rates. These independent variables include interviews (p=0.054), overall college GPA (p=0.029), and overall high school GPA (p=0.141). CONCLUSION. Preadmission requirements that include overall high school GPA, overall college GPA, and interviews can be used by admissions committees to predict dental hygiene student retention.
authors.affiliation: The Ohio State University, Dental Hygiene, 305 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Tel 614-688-2340, fax 614-292-8013. sanderson.102@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Tammy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Sanderson
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D012570:School Admission Criteria / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors