University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, 250 W Green Street, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
BDO USA, LLP, 501 Commerce Street, Suite 1400, Nashville, TN 37203, United States.
Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2023 May;15(5):473-482. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2023.04.020. Epub 2023 Apr 30.
Evolution of personal finance beliefs over the course of a college career are unknown. The purpose of this study is to compare perceptions and knowledge of personal finance in undergraduate and pharmacy students at baseline and after completing a personal finance course.
A personal finance elective course was implemented for second- and third-year doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students and for undergraduate freshman students. On the first and last day of class, students completed an anonymous survey evaluating demographics, opinions and knowledge regarding personal finance, and current financial status. Baseline data between undergraduate and pharmacy students was compared and the impact of the personal finance course was assessed.
The median score on the baseline knowledge assessment was 58% for freshman (n = 19) and 50% for pharmacy students (n = 28) (P = .571). Five percent of freshman and 86% of pharmacy students reported having debt at baseline (P < .001) compared to 84% and 68%, respectively, having savings (p = .110). After completing the personal finance course, knowledge assessment scores were 54% and 73% for freshman and pharmacy students, respectively (P < .001).
Despite additional years of education and life experience, PharmD students had similar knowledge and perceptions of personal finance while reporting more debt than freshmen. Pharmacy students, however, exhibited improvement in knowledge after taking a personal finance course, while freshman students did not. Personal finance-focused education may help empower graduating pharmacists for financial decision-making upon entering the workforce.
在大学学业期间，个人理财观念的演变尚不清楚。本研究的目的是比较本科和药学专业学生在完成个人理财课程前后对个人理财的看法和知识。
为药学专业的大二和大三学生以及本科新生开设了一门个人理财选修课。在课程的第一天和最后一天，学生们完成了一项匿名调查，评估他们对个人理财的看法、知识和当前财务状况，以及人口统计学信息。比较了本科和药学专业学生的基线数据，并评估了个人理财课程的影响。
新生（n=19）的基线知识评估中位数得分为 58%，药学专业学生（n=28）的中位数得分为 50%（P=.571）。5%的新生和 86%的药学专业学生在基线时有债务（P<.001），而分别有 84%和 68%的人有储蓄（p=.110）。完成个人理财课程后，新生和药学专业学生的知识评估分数分别为 54%和 73%（P<.001）。
尽管药学专业的学生接受了额外的教育和生活经验，但他们对个人理财的知识和看法与新生相似，同时报告的债务比新生多。然而，药学专业的学生在参加个人理财课程后表现出知识的提高，而新生则没有。以个人理财为重点的教育可能有助于授权即将毕业的药剂师在进入劳动力市场时做出财务决策。
