Performance of Pharmacy Students in a Communications Course Delivered Online During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

Objective. To examine pharmacy student readiness, reception, and performance in a communications course during the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare that with the performance of students who completed the same course in person the previous year. Methods. First-year Doctor of Pharmacy students (2020 cohort) enrolled in a professional communications course completed pre- and post-course surveys regarding their readiness for and changes in perception of online learning. Student learning was assessed using midterm and final examination grades. These grades were then compared with those of students who had completed the same course in person (on campus) the previous year (2019 cohort). Results. Students' preference for face-to-face instruction decreased from the pre-course to the postcourse survey as indicated by responses made using a five-point Likert-scale (difference in means = -1.59;p < .05). Their comfort level with online learning increased (difference in means = +0.38, p < .05) by the end of the course. Students did not perceive any appreciable changes in rapport with the instructor by the end of the study. Course performance of students in the online cohort did not differ significantly from that of the 2019 cohort (p> .05). Conclusion. This study demonstrated that first year PharmD students were already somewhat prepared for online learning when they began a communication course, with further adjustment occurring as the quarter progressed. Remote online learning did not seem to impact pharmacy student learning in this communications course conducted during the COVID-19 crisis.