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Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the extent to which health professions graduate students' demographic, academic, and environmental factors influence time to graduation. It also aimed to explore the experiences of graduates who took a leave of absence (LOA), including their perspectives on the factors contributing to delayed graduation and the strategies that supported their reintegration and eventual success.

Methods: A mixed methods explanatory sequential design with the qualitative analysis providing deeper context to the quantitative data. The qualitative arm of the study utilized a phenomenological approach. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviations for the continuous variables, and percentages for the categorical variables) were used to analyze demographic data. Graduating on time was used as a dichotomous (yes/no) dependent variable. Predictor variables included age, race/ethnicity, sex, age at program start, first term GPA, cumulative GPA, designed program length, and English as a second language (ESL) status.

Results: The strongest predictors of on-time graduation were first-term GPA (41.47%) and age at program start (12.61%). Designed program length and age at the start of the program demonstrated moderate contributions whereas ethnicity, sex, and ESL status minimally towards variance explaining on time graduation. Qualitative analysis revealed three themes: the experience of taking an LOA, Reintegration and Leave of absence was for the best.

Conclusions: First term GPA, age at program start and designed program length were the strongest predictors of delay in graduation.

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