The Influence of Personality Characteristics And Test Anxiety on Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool (PACKRAT) Performance

Purpose: This study was designed to examine the degree of association between the Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool (PACKRAT) scores of physician assistant (PA) students in their last year of study, and the personality characteristics and anxiety levels innate to them. Methods: A convenience sample of students from PA programs in the western United States participated in this study. Subjects were required to complete a survey instrument (consisting of a test anxiety scale, overall anxiety level rating, and personality characteristics), and to submit their PACKRAT scores. Results: Sixty-one students responded to the survey. No significant association between PACKRAT scores and personality characteristics was demonstrated. "During tests I get so nervous I forget facts I really know," was the only anxiety statement for which agreement was a significant predictor of PACKRAT scores (p=.004). Cumulatively, 29% of the variability in student performance was attributed to the 15 anxiety predictors; therefore, the residual percentage is explained by other factors that need to be identified and evaluated. Conclusion: Success on the PACKRAT appears to be multifactorial, and was not successfully predicted by anxiety level, personality, and demographic characteristics.