Pharmacy students’ perceptions of a transition to a virtual curriculum and their mental health implications

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess pharmacy students’ satisfaction with a transition to a remote pharmacy curriculum in the pandemic setting. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Autumn 2020. Participating pharmacy schools distributed an anonymous survey link to their pharmacy students. The survey evaluated student perceptions of virtual learning, barriers to success, solutions, mental health, and the validated Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Results: A total of 488 students responded to the survey. The majority of participating students were female (78%), 25-30 years old (68%), and racially diverse. Feelings of isolation were reported by 62% of students. Three-quarters of students disagreed or strongly disagreed that their motivation to study increased during quarantine. During quarantine, the PSS-10 revealed a statistically significant decline in mental health. Conclusion: This study identified barriers and solutions to studentsuccess in a virtual curriculum. The results also highlighted the need for support for pharmacy students’ mental health resources and advocacy.