Factors That Affect Academic Performance Among Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Objective. The objective of this study was to examine factors such as academic competence, test competence, time management, strategic studying, and test anxiety, and identify whether these factors could distinguish differences among students, based on academic performance and enrollment in the experiential program. Methods. A cross-sectional study design utilizing questionnaires measuring previously validated constructs was used to evaluate the effect of these factors on students with low and high cumulative grade point averages (GPAs). Pharmacy students (N 5 198) enrolled at the University of Houston participated in the study. Results. Academic performance was significantly associated with factors such as academic competence and test competence. Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater significantly differed in their level of test competence than those with a GPA of less than 3.0. Students enrolled in their experiential year differed from students enrolled in their second year of curriculum on factors such as test anxiety, academic competence, test competence, and time management skills. Conclusion. Test competence was an important factor to distinguish students with low vs. high academic performance. Factors such as academic competence, test competence, test anxiety and time management improve as students' progress in their experiential year.

Cognitive Determinants of Academic Performance in Nigerian Pharmacy Schools

“…8,9,12 These studies revealed similar findings with Sansgiry and colleagues' study. 2 However, the latter was conducted at only two US schools of pharmacy and suggested that differences in demographic variables at schools in other locations needed further study.…”

“…13,14 The Test Anxiety Inventory was employed among pharmacy students in the United States, and survey results showed good internal consistency with the instrument items. 8 The 20-item Study Management and Academic Results Test (SMART) measures academic self-efficacy and contains scales for 4 constructs: academic competence, test competence, time management, and strategic studying. The tool was developed and validated by Topman and colleagues in 1994 and the reliability coefficients of its scales ranged from 0.67 to 0.81.…”

“…2 Another study led by Sansgiry at a US pharmacy school revealed test and academic competence as significant factors associated with academic performances, but the authors recognized limitations, such as generalizing study results from a single pharmacy school and including only a small student sample size. 8 There is a lack of studies in this area outside the United States and none have been reported in Nigeria or in Africa. Our assessment of these cognitive factors on student performance in Nigerian pharmacy schools is the first known effort of its kind outside of the United States and specifically within pharmacy education.…”

“…7 Students with higher academic or test competence are likely to perform better in their respective tasks. 8,9 Time management skills are clusters of behavioral skills important in the organization of the study/ course load, 10 while strategic studying habit is a student's knowledge and application of effective study skills or techniques.…”

A Study to Analyze Various Factors Contributing to Stress in First Year MBBS Students During Examination

“…Counseling started at an appropriate stage integrated with medical curriculum and extracurricular activities like yoga, meditation etc is found to have a significant impact on their stress level 32,33,34 . In our study, there was 63% of students reported stress due to academic factors which is well in agreement with the earlier studies due to lack of strategic studying, studying all night before exams, inefficient studying which include lack of review and revising of course material studied are major factors leading to exam related anxiety 35 . 59% of students have reported exam related anxiety due to skipping of food and improper nutrition during exams is well in accordance with earlier reports 36 .…”