The Impact of COVID-19 on Pharmacy Student Stress During High-Stakes, Performance-Based Assessments in Skills-Based Courses

Objective. To compare stress levels of pharmacy students in high-stakes, performance-based assessments administered during skills-based laboratory courses in normal classroom environments versus pandemic classroom environments impacted by COVID-19. Methods. In 2019, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students' stress levels were assessed via a voluntary, paper-based survey before and after performance-based assessments. Students were given a modified version of this survey in 2020 during the pandemic. The 2019 and 2020 survey responses were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Results. Pharmacy students reported higher perceived stress levels before performance-based assessments (3.8 vs 3.5) and after performance-based assessments (2.8 vs 2.5) prior to the pandemic compared to during the pandemic. Students identified stress as negatively impacting their performance-based assessment performance in both years (3.4 vs 3.1). Students had similar interest in wellness activities in both phases. Conclusion. Colleges of pharmacy should consider implementing stress relief programs around highstakes assessments as well as prioritizing wellness initiatives within curricula.