(216) Association Between School NAPLEX Rates and Student Perceived Achievement of CAPE Outcomes

Objective : Student perceived achievement of CAPE outcomes at graduation could indicate confidence to test for NAPLEX and readiness to enter practice. The purpose of this research was to investigate the association between graduate students’ perceived achievement of the 2013 CAPE outcomes and school first-attempt pass rates for the past 5 years. We hypothesized a statistically significant and positive correlation between these two variables.

Methods: The study was based on a cross-sectional design that collected data from 5 consecutive cohorts of graduating students at a public pharmacy school. Following IRB approval, the graduating students were invited to participate in a 74-item structured survey to assess their perceived achievement of different constructs of the 2013 CAPE outcomes. The 5 cohorts (a total of 373 graduates) were invited over five years, starting with the 2018 cohort to and including the 2022 cohort. To maximize participation, the survey was integrated into a required Capstone course. An average score of perceived achievement of CAPE outcomes was computed for each class to compare with the school NAPLEX first attempt pass rate. Correlation analysis was conducted to investigate the association.

Results: A total of 363 graduating students from the 5 cohorts completed the survey (response rate = 97%). Contrary to the hypothesis, an inverse trend was observed between the two variables. In other words, there was a declining trend of NAPLEX first attempt pass rates combined with increased perceived achievement of CAPE outcomes over the last 5 years. However, the association analysis showed no statistical significance (p = .073).

Conclusions: Perceived achievement of CAPE outcomes does not seem to associate with NAPLEX-readiness. Objective examinations near graduation are important to increase student self-awareness of NAPLEX-readiness and practice-readiness.