TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of peer-led study sessions on first-year student pharmacist performance in pharmacy math
AU - Spivey, Christina A.
AU - Davis, Margaret S.
AU - Rodriguez, Juan D.
AU - Havrda, Dawn
AU - Chisholm-Burns, Marie A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2021/9
Y1 - 2021/9
N2 - Introduction: To evaluate effects of peer-led study sessions on performance in a traditionally challenging course, Pharmacy Math, among first-year student pharmacists (P1s). Methods: Peer-led study sessions were conducted throughout fall 2019 for P1s. Sessions were led by two second-year student pharmacists and focused on study skills and course-related strategies, principles, and content. P1s who attended the majority (at least five) of study sessions were compared to those who attended fewer sessions on student demographics, undergraduate science grade point average, and course outcome (pass/did not pass) using chi-square and independent samples t-tests. Relative risk (RR) was calculated. A sub-analysis of students considered at risk of failing was also conducted. Results: There were 200 P1 participants. Twenty-four students (12%) attended the majority of the sessions and 176 students (88%) attended fewer sessions. Of the 24 students who attended ≥ five study sessions, all passed Pharmacy Math, while 12 of the 176 students who attended fewer sessions failed Pharmacy Math. Students who attended ≥ five sessions had a 6.8% reduction in risk of failing compared to students who attended fewer sessions (RR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.895, 0.97). More striking, at-risk students who attended ≥ five study sessions had a 17.1% reduction in risk of failing. Conclusions: Peer-led study sessions contribute to reduced risk of failing Pharmacy Math among students who attend a majority of study sessions. Improvements for the future were identified, including mandatory attendance, group structure, and creative ways to cover concepts.
AB - Introduction: To evaluate effects of peer-led study sessions on performance in a traditionally challenging course, Pharmacy Math, among first-year student pharmacists (P1s). Methods: Peer-led study sessions were conducted throughout fall 2019 for P1s. Sessions were led by two second-year student pharmacists and focused on study skills and course-related strategies, principles, and content. P1s who attended the majority (at least five) of study sessions were compared to those who attended fewer sessions on student demographics, undergraduate science grade point average, and course outcome (pass/did not pass) using chi-square and independent samples t-tests. Relative risk (RR) was calculated. A sub-analysis of students considered at risk of failing was also conducted. Results: There were 200 P1 participants. Twenty-four students (12%) attended the majority of the sessions and 176 students (88%) attended fewer sessions. Of the 24 students who attended ≥ five study sessions, all passed Pharmacy Math, while 12 of the 176 students who attended fewer sessions failed Pharmacy Math. Students who attended ≥ five sessions had a 6.8% reduction in risk of failing compared to students who attended fewer sessions (RR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.895, 0.97). More striking, at-risk students who attended ≥ five study sessions had a 17.1% reduction in risk of failing. Conclusions: Peer-led study sessions contribute to reduced risk of failing Pharmacy Math among students who attend a majority of study sessions. Improvements for the future were identified, including mandatory attendance, group structure, and creative ways to cover concepts.
KW - Academic performance
KW - Near-peer learning
KW - Pharmacy math
KW - Pharmacy students
KW - Supplemental instruction
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U2 - 10.1016/j.cptl.2021.06.029
DO - 10.1016/j.cptl.2021.06.029
M3 - Article
C2 - 34330395
AN - SCOPUS:85108091234
SN - 1877-1297
VL - 13
SP - 1168
EP - 1173
JO - Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning
JF - Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning
IS - 9
ER -