Correlation of the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment and Selected Pre-pharmacy and Pharmacy Performance Variables

Abstract

Objective. To identify the correlation between the Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA) and pre-pharmacy and pharmacy performance variables. Methods. Four years of PCOA data (2012-2015) were analyzed for students taking the assessment in the third professional year (P3). Using the Pearson correlation coefficient, data was correlated to a series of performance variables: pre-pharmacy grade point average (GPA), pre-pharmacy science GPA (pre-pharmacy science courses only), Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) composite score, P3 pre-advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) GPA and the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX). Scores that were correlated at r ≥ 0.30 were added to a multivariate linear regression model to compare their unique contributions. Results. There was a moderate correlation between PCOA and PCAT (r=0.60), P3 pre-APPE GPA (r=0.60) and the NAPLEX (r=0.64). The multivariate regression analysis explained 60% of the variance of the total PCOA score, with PCAT making the largest unique contribution. Conclusion. The PCOA was moderately to strongly correlated to the pre-APPE GPA, thus providing an acceptable assessment of student learning. The PCOA was also moderately to strongly correlated to the NAPLEX, making it a useful tool in predicting performance and identifying students in need of further remediation before the NAPLEX.