Abstract
Background and Purpose: Evolution of personal finance beliefs over the course of a college career are unknown. The purpose of this study is to compare perceptions and knowledge of personal finance in undergraduate and pharmacy students at baseline and after completing a personal finance course.Educational Activity and Setting: A personal finance elective course was implemented for second- and third-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students and for undergraduate freshman students. On the first and last day of class, students completed an anonymous survey evaluating demographics, opinions and knowledge regarding personal finance, and current financial status. Baseline data between undergraduate and pharmacy students was compared and the impact of the personal finance course was assessed.Findings: The median score on the baseline knowledge assessment was 58% for freshman (n = 19) and 50% for pharmacy students (n = 28) (P = .571). Five percent of freshman and 86% of pharmacy students reported having debt at baseline (P < .001) compared to 84% and 68%, respectively, having savings (p = .110). After completing the personal finance course, knowledge assessment scores were 54% and 73% for freshman and pharmacy students, respectively (P < .001).Summary: Despite additional years of education and life experience, PharmD students had similar knowledge and perceptions of personal finance while reporting more debt than freshmen. Pharmacy students, however, exhibited improvement in knowledge after taking a personal finance course, while freshman students did not. Personal finance-focused education may help empower graduating pharmacists for financial decision-making upon entering the workforce.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
