Nigel Irwin1, Kathryn M Burnett2, Paul A McCarron3. 1. SAAD Centre for Pharmacy and Diabetes, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland BT52 1SA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: n.irwin@ulster.ac.uk. 2. SAAD Centre for Pharmacy and Diabetes, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland BT52 1SA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: k.burnett@ulster.ac.uk. 3. SAAD Centre for Pharmacy and Diabetes, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland BT52 1SA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: p.mccarron@ulster.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: As the higher education (HE) classroom begins to adopt newer internet-based technologies, the relationship between attendance and performance needs to be re-evaluated, particularly for professional degree courses such as pharmacy. In the present study, we aimed to establish if an association exists between attendance at all timetabled classes and academic performance, in a Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) module, as part of the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree course at Ulster University. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Data on attendance, final examination and coursework performance were collected over two academic years (2013-14 and 2014-15) of the CPT module at Ulster. In total 67 students were analysed. The MPharm degree at Ulster University implements an attendance policy, both as a pastoral support tool and to reinforce the need for professional conduct as a pharmacist. FINDINGS: Student (2013-14 and 2014-15, n = 35 and 32, respectively) attendance on the module across both year groups was approximately 80%. We observed positive, and statistically significant relationships between attendance and performance on the examination, and especially in the coursework elements of the module. Student failure (below 40%) in the final examination was linked to attendance below an 80% threshold in nine of 12 cases. Reasons for not attending class varied, but illness was unquestionably the most commonly cited extenuation. DISCUSSION: Taken together, these data confirm a convincing association between student attendance and academic achievement. SUMMARY: Our studies promote the use of attendance monitoring policies for professional degree courses such as pharmacy.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: As the higher education (HE) classroom begins to adopt newer internet-based technologies, the relationship between attendance and performance needs to be re-evaluated, particularly for professional degree courses such as pharmacy. In the present study, we aimed to establish if an association exists between attendance at all timetabled classes and academic performance, in a Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (CPT) module, as part of the Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree course at Ulster University. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: Data on attendance, final examination and coursework performance were collected over two academic years (2013-14 and 2014-15) of the CPT module at Ulster. In total 67 students were analysed. The MPharm degree at Ulster University implements an attendance policy, both as a pastoral support tool and to reinforce the need for professional conduct as a pharmacist. FINDINGS: Student (2013-14 and 2014-15, n = 35 and 32, respectively) attendance on the module across both year groups was approximately 80%. We observed positive, and statistically significant relationships between attendance and performance on the examination, and especially in the coursework elements of the module. Student failure (below 40%) in the final examination was linked to attendance below an 80% threshold in nine of 12 cases. Reasons for not attending class varied, but illness was unquestionably the most commonly cited extenuation. DISCUSSION: Taken together, these data confirm a convincing association between student attendance and academic achievement. SUMMARY: Our studies promote the use of attendance monitoring policies for professional degree courses such as pharmacy.
Authors: Elia Fernández-Martínez; María Dolores Onieva-Zafra; Ana Abreu-Sánchez; Juan José Fernández-Muñóz; María Laura Parra-Fernández Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-12-19 Impact factor: 3.390