University of the Free State allied health professions students' expectations and experience of an undergraduate physiology course

Abstract

Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Dietetics students taking a two semester
physiology course completed voluntary questionnaires at the first and last contact
sessions of the year. These data as well as students' June and November
examination results were included in a database and analysed. In more than 90
per cent of cases students responded that their expectations had been met after
completing the course. No association was found between previous experience of
physiology and/or biology and passing with distinction, students' definition of
physiology, or their reasons for taking the course. No association existed between
passing with distinction and students' reasons for taking the course. This study is a
step towards realising the ideal in higher education of confirming perceived change
with evidence of material change, as both students' expectations were met and high
success rates were achieved.

South African Journal of Higher Education Vol. 19 (2) 2006: pp.306-315