Pharmacy Calculations as a Predictor of Performance in Pharmacokinetics

Authors

Christine R. Birnie, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Fang Zhao, St. John Fisher UniversityFollow
Jack Brown, St. John Fisher University

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

7-2015

Abstract

Objectives: In an effort to identify at-risk students in selected curricular content areas, a retrospective study was conducted to determine whether a relationship exists between performance in the Pharmacy Calculations (PC) and Pharmacokinetics (PK) course content areas.

Method: Exam grades were compiled from four years of first year students completing both the PC and PK content areas of the curriculum. A logistic regression model was developed to determine the predictive relationship between students receiving the same PC and PK letter grades. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the grades received in PC and those students receiving a grade at or above that in PK. All statistics were performed using SPSS software.

Results: Grades were compiled from four classes of first year pharmacy students totaling 320 students. Analysis of compiled data revealed an overall very good predictive discrimination with an r-squared of 0.65 and p value of <0.0001 for students in the four compiled years. 77% of students with an A in PC received an A in PK, 76% with a B in PC received a B or above in PK, 98% with a C in PC received a C or above in PK and 55% of those who failed PC failed PK.

Implications: A very good predictive relationship was observed between PC and PK course content, which provides a means to predict student performance. In future offerings, faculty may identify potential students at risk for poor performance in their course and provide additional means of support for the student.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe795S4

Comments

Presented at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) annual meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, July 11-15, 2015.

Abstract published in American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 2015; 79 (5) Article S4: https://www.ajpe.org/content/79/5/S4

Publication Information

Birnie, Christine R.; Zhao, Fang; and Brown, Jack (2015). "Pharmacy Calculations as a Predictor of Performance in Pharmacokinetics." American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 79.5, Article S4-.

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