(25) Change in Pharmacy Calculations Performance After Transitioning from Standalone, Live Course to Longitudinal, Self-Guided Format

Objective : To evaluate student pharmacy calculations performance after transitioning from a live, standalone, single-semester course to a longitudinal, self-guided format embedded in a four semester skills laboratory series.

Methods: Pharmacy calculations content delivery was modified with implementation of a revised curriculum. In the original didactic cohort, content was delivered in a live, standalone, single-semester course during fall semesters of the first didactic year. In the revised self-guided cohort, content was provided through on-demand videos, practice problems, and recitation over the first and second didactic years. A study schedule was provided through the laboratory courses to help pace student learning. Knowledge in the original didactic cohort was assessed using calculations items on an end-of-year, comprehensive assessment. The revised self-guided cohort was assessed with an end-of-year, high-stakes calculations assessment. Student performance on these items at the end of the first and second years was compared between cohorts using student t-tests.

Results: P1 students in the self-guided cohort (n = 102) outperformed the didactic cohort (n = 170) on calculation items (p <.001); this was driven by performance in prescription medication orders, systems of measurement, altering product strength, and patient-specific dosing calculations. P2 students in the self-guided cohort (n = 58) also outperformed the didactic cohort (n = 155) (p <.001); this was driven by performance in dimensional analysis, isotonicity, constitution of solutions, patient-specific dosing, and reducing and enlarging formulas.

Conclusions: Student pharmacy calculations performance may improve in specific areas using the revised format. However, there were potential confounders, so further data are necessary to determine the ultimate impact. Based on available data, it appears a longitudinal, self-guided format may be a reasonable option for pharmacy calculations content delivery.