Objectives: To track pharmacy student knowledge over time using a proprietary software program in an accelerated program for curricular assessment.
Methods: All students were required to complete a computerized comprehensive diagnostic examination 3 times during the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) program: at the beginning of the second year, and near the end of the second and third years. The examination was comprised of 100 questions in 3 content areas: pharmacotherapy, preparation and dispensing of medications, and providing health care information. Within-subject differences in mean area and total percent scores were compared.
Results: Based on 123 students' data, mean scores for pharmacotherapy and total percent scores for examination 1 were significantly different from examinations 2 and 3.
Conclusion: The computer-based comprehensive diagnostic examination shows promise for use as a component of a comprehensive assessment plan.
Keywords: assessment; curricular assessment; doctor of pharmacy curriculum; longitudinal assessment.