THE CHOICE OF PHARMACY PROFESSION AS A CAREER: UAE EXPERIENCE
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objective: Students decision to choose pharmacy as a future career is one of many difficult choices, they have to make as they enter the university, and
it is a big decision as they have to live with the consequences the rest of their lives.
Aim: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the student's reasons for selecting to study pharmacy major and gauge the student's perception and
attitude regarding pharmacy education, pharmacists, and pharmacy profession.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study.
Results: Family encouragement (213; 84.5%), personal interest (179; 71.0%), and to get a medical professional degree (199; 79.0%) were reported
by the majority of the students under investigation as a personal reason to join pharmacy as a career. Interestingly, when participants were asked to
show their opinion about the relationship between what they had studied and reality of the practice, almost half 25 (47.2%) reported no.â€
Conclusion: Despite the positive attitude of students to work as a member of health-care team, pharmacy curriculum in the colleges of pharmacy and
pharmacy practice at the community level have to be revised and improved to meet students' expectation after graduation, to change student opinion
regarding advising a family member or a friend to study pharmacy, and to help students to find a good relationship between the study and the reality
of pharmacy practice.
Keywords: Pharmacy students, Pharmacy education, Career preferences, United Arab Emirates, Educational and Practice Research.
Downloads
References
REFERENCES
Kenreigh CA, Wagner LT. The pharmacist shortage: Where do we
stand? Medscape Pharm 2006;7(1). Available from: http://www.
medscape.com/viewarticle/521115. [Last accessed on 2016 Mar 06].
Keshishian F, Brocavich JM, Boone RT, Pal S. Motivating factors
influencing college students’ choice of academic major. Am J Pharm
Educ 20102;74(3):46.
Rascati KL. Comparison of women pharmacy and nursing students. Am
Pharm 1990;NS30(6):49-53.
Danielle A, Taylor MP, Patton JM. The pharmacy student population:
Applications received 2006–07, degrees conferred 2006–07, fall 2007
enrollments. Am J Pharm Educ 2008;72 Suppl: S06.
Ferguson JA, Roller L, Wertheimer AI. Social factors motivating
students toward a career in pharmacy. RSAP 1986;3:59-66.
Aita V, McIlvain H, Backer E, McVea K, Crabtree B. Patient-centered
care and communication in primary care practice: What is involved?
Patient Educ Couns 2005;58(3):296-304.
Berger BA. Communication Skills for Pharmacists: Building
Relationships, Improving Patient Care. 2
ed. Washington, DC:
American Pharmacists Association; 2005.
nd
Pratt R. Analysis of a pilot study of factors that motivate individuals to
elect the health sciences as a career, with special reference to pharmacy.
Am J Pharm Educ 1965;20:175-90.
Wu LT, Low MM, Tan KK, Lopez V, Liaw SY. Why not nursing? A
systematic review of factors influencing career choice among healthcare
students. Int Nurs Rev 2015;62(4):547-62.
Sharif SI, Rubians SS. Choosing pharmacy as a major: Motivations and
influences. Pharm Educ 20014;14(1):123-7.
Shakeel S, Iffat W, Yasmin R, Ali H. Prospective career preferences of
imminent pharmacist. IOSR J Pharm 2013;3(8):38-43.
Willis SC, Shann P, Hassell K. Pharmacy career deciding: Making a
choice a good fitâ€. J Health Organ Manage 2009;23(1):85-102.
Anderson DC, Sheffield MC, Hill AM, Cobb HH. Influences on
pharmacy students’ decision to pursue a doctor of pharmacy degree.
Am J Pharm Educ 2008;72(2):22.
Lobb WB, Shah M. Kolassa EM. Factors influencing the selection of
a major: A comparison of pharmacy and nonpharmacy undergraduate
students. J Pharm Teach 2004;11(2):45-64.
Rascati KL. Career choice, plans, and commitment of pharmacy
students. Am J Pharm Educ 1989;53(3):228-34.
Burlage HM. Motivating influences to the study of pharmacy. Am J
Pharm Educ 1963;27:75-80.
Capstick S, Green JA, Beresford R. Choosing a course of study and
career in pharmacy - Student attitudes and intensions across three years
at New Zealand School of pharmacy. Pharm Educ 2007;7(4):359-73.
Raosoft. An Online Sample Size Calculator. Available from: http://
www.ezsurvey.com/samplesize. [Last accessed on 2015 Dec 15].
Shakel S, Iffat W, Yassmin R, Rahim N. First professional Pharm D
students’ inspiration to join pharmacy as a career. AJPHS 2013;3(4):842-7.
Langridge SM, Stensland SL, Warholak TL, Mattingly L. Impact of the
career explorers program on high school students’ perceptions of the
pharmacy profession. Am J Pharm Educ 2008;72(3):68.
Hassali MA, Khan MT, Shafie AA. Motivational factors to choose
pharmacy as a career; Findings of a preliminary survey conducted
among pharmacy undergraduate students. TTEM 2009;4(1):21-5.
Smith F. Survey research: (2) Survey instruments, reliability and
validity. Int J Pharm Pract 1997;5:2016-26.
Taylor KM, Bates I, Harding G. The implications of increasing student
numbers for pharmacy education. Pharm Educ 2004;4(1):33-9.
Wong S. Pharmacy practice in Malaysia. Malaysian J Pharm 2001;1:2-8.
Bond C. A science-based profession? Int J Pharm Pract 2010;18:321-2.
History of Dubai Pharmacy College. Available from: http://
www.dpc.edu/index.php?navmenu=1&id=1208764629
&subaction=showfull&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1. [Last accessed
on 2016 Jan 21].
Core Health Indicators – United Arab Emirates. Available from:
http://www.who.int/whosis/database/core/core_select_process.
cfm?country=are&indicators=healthpersonnel. [Last accessed on
Dec 23].
Kheir N, Zaidan M, Younes H, El Hajj M, Wilbur K, Jewesson PJ.
Pharmacy education and practice in 13 Middle Eastern countries. Am J
Pharm Educ 2008;72:133.
Najia R, Shagufta U. Physicians’ opinion about the role of pharmacist
in the health care system of Pakistan. Int J Pharm Teach Pract
;3(2):257-60.
Shazia QJ, Mohamed AH, Mohamed IM, Asrul AS, Zaheer B.
Knowledge, perception and attitude of community pharmacists
towards generic medicines in Karachi, Pakistan. Trop J Pharm Res
;9(4):409-15.
Shakeel S, Iffat W, Yasmin R, Ali H, Ibrahim S. Pharmacy students’
perception and attitude towards the course and scope of community
pharmacy in Pakistan. J Pharm Biomed Sci 2013;32(32):1400-6.
Rayes IK, Hassali MA, Abduelkarem AR. The role of pharmacists in
developing countries: The current scenario in the United Arab Emirates.
SPJ 2014;23(5):470-4.
Oldfield E. Pharmacists are among the most trusted professionals.
Pharm Times 2012. Available from: http://www.pharmacytimes.com/
news/pharmacists-rank-among-most-trusted-professionals. [Last
accessed on 2016 Mar 06].
Rupp MT, DeYoung M, Schondelmeyer SW. Prescribing problems
and pharmacist interventions in community practice. Med Care
;30(10):926-40.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
The publication is licensed under CC By and is open access. Copyright is with author and allowed to retain publishing rights without restrictions.