2022 Volume 6 Article ID: 2021-017
The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Fukuoka University examined the effects of a remedial biology course provided to first-year pharmacy students after program admission in 2014. The academic results of students who had enrolled in the program and took the 105th National Examination for Pharmacists were tracked throughout the six years. After one semester, the results showed no difference in biology test results between students who took the remedial course and those who did not need to take it. The course closed the academic gap observed after the placement test at the time of admission and maintained those results up to the participants’ graduation. A questionnaire, also given to participants, revealed an improvement in students’ understanding of biology despite 65% of the respondents initially struggling with biology before taking the remedial course. In addition, the pass rate for the 105th National Exam was higher among the course participants than for those who did not take the course. This study suggested that early intervention with the remedial course improved and maintained student motivation until graduation.