DETERMINANTS OF POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG PHARMACY STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

Objectives To determine the various factors responsible for poor academic performance among pharmacy students and identify the specific factors that impact most on student’s performance. Methods This was a cross-sectional study which employed a 46-item questionnaire to measure factors affecting pharmacy students’ performance. This study included students from their 200 to 600level class in the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Results Rushed academic calendar had the highest mean score of 3.44±0.59, this was followed by giving lecture notes late (3.38±58), financial constraints (3.37±0.67), the fear of failure (3.36±0.73) and bulky lecture notes and too much information (3.35±0.71). The non-conducive atmosphere for learning, like tight lecture halls (3.20±0.64), poor lecture delivery style (3.19±0.61) and lack of mentorship (3.00±0.72), had the lowest mean scores. Students with lower CGPA (<2.5) agreed that fear of failure, lack of mentorship, and poor lecture delivery style (3.50±0.58), respectively, were responsible for poor academic performance among pharmacy students compared to those with higher CGPA of >4.5 with mean scores of 3.31±0.76, 2.79±0.73 and 3.03±0.57 for the above factors (P<0.05).