title: Evaluating the relationship between general health vocabulary and student achievement in pharmacology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether achievement in pharmacology is related to students' general health vocabulary knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students registered for the pharmacology modules in the second (n=117), third (n=54), and fourth (n=41) years of the bachelor of pharmacy degree program completed a general health vocabulary assessment. Results of the vocabulary assessments in Pharmacology 3 and Pharmacology 4 were used to determine the effects of academic progression. Grades in the summative Pharmacology 2 examination served as indicators of achievement in pharmacology. Focus group sessions were held with a convenience sample of Pharmacology 2 (n=12), Pharmacology 3 (n=10), and Pharmacology 4 (n=5) students.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant, positive correlation between Pharmacology 2 grades and vocabulary assessment scores was demonstrated. Student perceptions revealed during focus group interviews were that poor pharmacy-related vocabulary knowledge impacted their ability to learn pharmacology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Achievement in pharmacology correlated positively with vocabulary knowledge (p=0.031) among a South African, multilingual student cohort in a setting where English is used in teaching and thus is imperative for learning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
authors.forename: Shirley-Anne
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Boschmans
authors.affiliation: School for Education Research and Engagement, Faculty of Education, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Webb
mesh_terms: D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D010600:Pharmacology / Q000193:education*; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: achievement; general health vocabulary; multilingual; pharmacology; pharmacy