Assessment of critical thinking in pharmacy students.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether changes occur over 1 academic year in pharmacy students' critical thinking skills and disposition to think critically.


METHODS
First, second, third, and fourth-year pharmacy students completed the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) and the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CCTDI) at the beginning and end of 1 academic year.


RESULTS
One hundred thirty-seven students completed the study. No significant changes occurred over the year in total scores on either instrument. However, scores in 3 of 12 subscale scores changed significantly and several significant correlations were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Pharmacy students' scores on 2 critical thinking instruments showed no major improvements over 1 academic year but most scores were above average. Some areas of possible weakness were identified. Additional studies comparing scores over a longer period of time (eg, admission to graduation) are needed.
Cisneros
Robert M
RM
Campbell University School of Pharmacy, Buies Creek, NC 27506, USA.
D000328:Adult; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D013850:Thinking; D055815:Young Adult