Bridging the Gap: Impact of a Pre-Matriculation Module on Student Performance in Pharmacy Calculations
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2025
Abstract
Objective: P-Zero is a pre-matriculation program established to enhance the academic readiness and success of incoming first-year Pharm.D. students. This study evaluated the impact of the preparation for pharmacy calculations module of the P-Zero on student performance in the first-year Pharmacy Calculations course. Outcomes in exam scores, course average, and failure rates of multiple class cohorts were compared between students who completed the P-Zero module and those who did not to determine if there were any significant differences. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, analyzing student performance in the Pharmacy Calculations course for first-year Pharm.D. students from 2020 to 2024. Students in the 2022–2024 cohorts (intervention cohorts, n=206) completed the P-Zero calculations module, while the 2020 and 2021 cohorts did not (control cohorts, n=187). The P-Zero module is an asynchronous, self-paced, online module covering fundamental mathematical concepts through video lectures, practice problems, faculty-facilitated office hours, and a mandatory summative assessment requiring a minimum score of 80% to pass the module. Student performance metrics, including first-attempt exam scores, overall course averages, and failure rates, were compared between the two groups. Results: The intervention cohort demonstrated significantly higher first exam average scores (90.64%) compared to the non-P-Zero controls (86.48%, p=.001). Similarly, the P-Zero group had a significantly higher overall course average (84.60 vs. 80.67, p=.002) and a lower course failure rate compared to the control group (6% vs. 19%, p< .001). Conclusions: The implementation of the P-Zero pre-matriculation bridging program significantly improved student performance in the first-year Pharmacy Calculations course. These findings reveal the value of targeted bridging programs in preparing Pharm.D. students and the importance of proactive interventions to support student success.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2025.101602
Publication Information
Bhatt, Priyanka; McCaffrey, David; Birnie, Christine R. PhD; Ali, Remah; Camenisch, Todd; and Lull, Melinda (2025). "Bridging the Gap: Impact of a Pre-Matriculation Module on Student Performance in Pharmacy Calculations." American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 89.11.
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