Investigating the Effects of Pharmacology Flashcards on Academic Achievement and Attitudes in Medical Students

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of student-generated pharmacology flashcards on academic achievement and attitudes towards the pharmacology course among medical students. The study specifically investigated whether flashcard use improves pharmacology grades and fosters more positive perceptions of the subject. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 202 third-year medical students at a state university. Participation in the flashcard application was voluntary, with 66 students engaging in five collaborative sessions to create and review 100 flashcards based on pharmacology course material. The remaining 136 students attended standard lectures only. Academic performance was measured using semester 3 board 5 exam scores, final grades, and grade point average (GPA). Attitudes towards pharmacology were assessed using the Attitude Scale of Medical School Students Towards Pharmacology Course. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare academic and attitudinal outcomes between the two groups. Results: Students participating in the flashcard sessions scored significantly higher than non-participants on semester 3 board 5 exams (p