Evaluation of numeracy skills in first year pharmacy undergraduates 1999 – 2005

Authors

  • R. Karl Malcolm School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
  • Colin P. McCoy School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University of Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK

Keywords:

Numeracy, calculations, MPharm, assessment Introduction Within the last decade, there has been an unprece- dented shift in emphasis within undergraduate degree programmes in the development of key transferable generic skills, such as those relating to IT,

Abstract

There is growing concern within the profession of pharmacy regarding the numerical competency of students completing their undergraduate studies. In this 7 year study, the numerical competency of first year pharmacy undergraduate students at the School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, was assessed both on entry to the MPharm degree and after completion of a basic numeracy course during the first semester of Level 1. The results suggest that students are not retaining fundamental numeracy concepts initially taught at secondary level education, and that the level of ability has significantly decreased over the past 7 years.

References

McPherson, G., Davies, G., & McRobbie, D. (1999). Preregistra- tion trainee clinical competence: A base line assessment. Pharmaceutical Journal, 263, 168–170.

Nathan, A. (2000). Poor numeracy of students (letter). Pharmaceu- tical Journal, 264, 592.

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How to Cite

Malcolm, R. K., & McCoy, C. P. (2018). Evaluation of numeracy skills in first year pharmacy undergraduates 1999 – 2005. Pharmacy Education, 7(1). Retrieved from https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/162

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2007)

Section

Research Article

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