(118) Assessing Student Pharmacists' Internal Motivation in a Top 300 Drug Assessment

Objective : To measure the internal motivation of pharmacy students at the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy (UKCOP) on the Top 300 Drug Card Assessment.

Methods: The study is a voluntary, cross-sectional survey of student pharmacists’ motivation related to a Top 300 Drug Assessment. Third-year (P3) students in a required laboratory course were expected to demonstrate competency (3 total Attempts) on the Top 300 Drug Assessment at the conclusion of the semester. Prior to this assessment, P3 students completed mandatory, ungraded assessments on a weekly basis that provided feedback to assess student performance. To measure internal motivation, a survey using a modified version of an Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) was developed and offered to all P3 students at UKCOP. The survey included questions to collect responses across four domains including (1) interest/enjoyment, (2) perceived competence, (3) perceived choice, and (4) pressure/tension. An invitation to the voluntary survey was sent at the end of the fall semester when they completed the graded, competency-based Top 300 Drug Card Assessment.

Results: 73 students fully completed the IMI (56%RR; 73/131). IMI domain performance was scored on a 7-point Likert scale with students reporting overall low self-reported interest/enjoyment (2.06/7), and moderate perceived competence (3.20/7), perceived choice (3.55/7), and pressure/tension (3.28) related to the activity. Students who required a second or third attempt to achieve competency were more likely to report higher pressure/tension (3.31 vs. 4.04 vs. 5.26) and lower perceived competency (3.94 vs. 2.71 vs. 1.86) respectively.

Conclusions: Students self-reported internal motivation affected assessment performance to achieve competency in a Top 300 Drug Assessment. IMI results will inform future curriculum implementation and teaching strategies to reduce self-perceived pressure and competency.