The Relationship Between Prior Experiences in Mathematics and Pharmacy School Success.

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Mathematics Education

Background:

• Assessing pre-pharmacy students' math background is crucial for academic success.
• Understanding the link between prior math experiences, confidence, and performance in pharmacy coursework is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate pharmacy students' math experiences before pharmacy school.
• To determine the relationship between these experiences, math confidence, and grades in pharmacy courses.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey of 198 pharmacy students (first to third year).
• Data collected on pre-pharmacy math courses (type, timing), math confidence (Fogerty Scale), GPA, Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) quantitative scores, and course grades.
• Statistical analyses included Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regression.

Main Results:

• More high school math courses correlated with better calculation grades.
• Higher math GPA and PCAT quantitative scores predicted better grades in calculations and kinetics.
• Increased time since high school math negatively impacted calculations and kinetics grades.
• Greater math confidence was linked to higher calculation grades.

Conclusions:

• The quantity of pre-pharmacy math courses and the time elapsed since completion are significant predictors of student success.
• PCAT quantitative scores and time since high school independently predict calculation grades.
• PCAT quantitative scores independently predict kinetics grades.