ABSTRACTS
Predictive Value of CPR Exam Performance for EMT Course CompletionAuthor: Daniel Armstrong | Associate Professor | Queensborough Community College Associate Authors: Sporer, Celia | Orsino, Ella | Orsino, Eric
Introduction Early identification of students at risk for struggling academically is vitally important in Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) education. Assessment tools that predict academic success can guide timely interventions and enhance retention. This study examined whether performance on an AHA CPR exam serves as a significant predictor of EMT course completion and final exam performance. Hypothesis: Methods This retrospective study analyzed data from 559 EMT students enrolled over ten years. Variables included CPR exam scores, multiple in-class exams, final exam scores, and course completion status. Descriptive statistics characterized overall performance. Pearson correlations assessed relationships among the CPR exam, final exam scores, and course completion. Independent samples t-tests compared assessment scores between completers and non-completers. A binary logistic regression examined CPR exam scores as predictors of course completion, with model performance evaluated via classification accuracy and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results CPR scores were significantly correlated with final exam scores (r = .539, p < .001) and course completion (r = .441, p < .001). Students who completed the course scored significantly higher on the CPR exam (M = 92.32, SD = 6.09) than non-completers (M = 84.39, SD = 10.09), t(283.01) = 9.78, p < .001, yielding a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.00). Logistic regression revealed CPR scores significantly predicted course completion (B = .121, p < .001), with each additional point increasing the odds of completion by 12.9% (Exp(B) = 1.129). The model achieved 72.3% classification accuracy and an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.735, indicating acceptable discriminative ability. Conclusion Findings support the hypothesis that CPR exam scores significantly predict both EMT course completion and final exam performance. Implementing CPR assessments as an entry exam or early screening tool may enable timely support for at-risk students, improve retention and academic outcomes.
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