(184) Examining Pharmacy Students' Utilization of an Online Curricular Resource Platform: Insights from a Single Institution

Objective : Examine the use of an online curricular resource platform by pharmacy students at a school of pharmacy.

Methods: Pharmacy students at a single institution were invited to complete an online survey. Questions asked students to indicate the frequency with which they used an online curricular resource platform, identify specific resources within the platform and reasons for using or not using the platform and/or resources within the platform.

Results: One hundred eighty students completed the survey (46% response rate). Most participants (37.8%) were in their 4th professional year. Significant associations between professional year and frequency of use of the online curricular resource platform (p <.01), course textbooks (p <.05), NAPLEX central (p <.01) and Study Tools (p <.02) were observed. The most common motivations for using the platform included faculty/faculty advisor recommendations, clarifying lecture information and supplementing class notes. Of note, reasons for not using textbooks available through the platform include preference for ‘easier’ to use resources such as drug databases, and lecture/ lecture slides provided information needed.

Conclusions: Results from this study fall in line with previous research showing that students often do not take advantage of online curricular resource platforms available through institutional subscriptions. Interestingly, the frequency of use of these platforms increased as students advanced through the curriculum, a possible indication that as students gain knowledge, they better realize the benefit of such resources. Online curricular resource platforms are a valuable educational tool and the financial investment by institutions to supply these resources to students is significant. For this reason, it would benefit institutions to identify avenues to better illustrate the benefit of this resource to students.