While there was no correlation between critical-thinking
score and performance on the clinical-simulation examination,
the significant association between strong science-
course background and critical-thinking scores may
be useful in predicting a student’s ability to perform in
areas where critical thinking is of paramount importance,
such as clinical competence and response under pressure.
When a larger pool of qualified candidates is present, assessing
applicants’ critical-thinking ability might also be
used as a factor in candidate selection for respiratory care
programs. The WGCTA, although considered the standard
test for critical-thinking ability, may not be the best way to
measure critical-thinking ability in healthcare professionals.