Relationship Between Health Behaviors and Academic Performance in Pharmacy Students in Their Didactic Years

Abstract

Specific Aims: To explore the relationship between health behaviors and academic performance amongst PharmD candidates. Subjects: Pharmacy students in their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year of PharmD program at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy. Methods: An online survey was emailed to PharmD students in their didactic years at the University of Arizona, including a cover letter explaining the project, informed consent, and due date to submit responses. The survey utilized Qualtrics software to collect the responses from participants on their demographic characteristics, academic performances, and health behaviors, including study habits, sleep patterns, and physical activity (type, intensity, location, frequency). Additionally, data on leadership positions status, hours worked per week, and consumption of tobacco and alcohol were also collected. Main Results: A total of 91 PharmD students completed the survey. 58 (63.7%) respondents were female, 59 (64.8%) were in the 23–27-year-old age range, and 60 (65.9%) identified as White/Caucasian. Of the 91 students, 39.6% met recommended health guidelines for physical activity, while 70.3% met the recommendations for alcohol consumption. There was a significant difference in GPA for students who met physical activity recommendations (p=0.04) compared to those who did not. However, there was no significant difference in GPA between those who met the recommended guidelines for alcohol or nicotine-containing product consumption versus those who did not (p=0.32). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest an association between health behaviors and academic performance. Meeting certain recommended health behaviors, such as physical activity, were associated with a higher GPA among PharmD students in their didactic years.