Prestige and financial stability: motivating factors to pursue a doctor of pharmacy degree.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to identify factors influencing students' decision to pursue a doctorate in pharmacy (PharmD). METHODS: Focus-group interviews and quantitative surveys were used in sequence to investigate pharmacy students' motivations. A total of 36 current PharmD students from two US colleges of pharmacy participated in five focus groups. The resulting qualitative findings, along with existing literature, informed the development of a survey questionnaire, which was then administered to two cohorts of first-year pharmacy students at one of the participating colleges. KEY FINDINGS: Identified themes include prestige of a doctorate, patient interaction, career versatility, and pharmacy school's lower intensity vis-à-vis medical school. A total of 110 first-year pharmacy students from a 4-year program (average (SD) age 23 (5); 65% female) completed the survey (98.5% response rate). The order of factors that respondents ranked as important or somewhat important for choosing pharmacy include: financial stability (n = 107 (97%)), prestige of a doctorate degree ((n = 97 (88%)), good work-life balance ((n = 96 (87%)), the opportunity to use critical thinking skills ((n = 93 (85%)), having patient interaction and communication ((n = 91 (83%)), and being in a profession or service ((n = 91 (83%)). CONCLUSIONS: US PharmD students are mainly drawn by job and financial stability, prestige of a doctorate, and a good work-life balance.

Examining the motivations and future career aspirations of Qatari pharmacy students and alumni: A case study.

INTRODUCTION: The Global Pharmacy Workforce report published by the International Pharmaceutical Federation indicated pharmacy workforce shortages and called forstrengthening workforce planning. The low percentage of Qatari students in the College of Pharmacy at Qatar University could negatively impact the fulfilment of the Qatar National Vision and the United Nations' Goals. The aim of this research is to examine the motivations of Qatari pharmacy students and alumni to study pharmacy, and to understand their perceptions of the profession and career aspirations. METHODS: A qualitative case study research was conducted. Data were collected by focus groups and semi-structured interviews, and were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Research findings suggested that increasing the national workforce was the main motive for students to study pharmacy. The participants' perceptions of the profession varied from pharmacy being a drug sales profession to it being a healthcare profession. Participants' career aspirations included pursuing graduate studies, working in hospitals, and working in academia. The participants were generally satisfied with studying pharmacy, which encouraged them to recommend the major to others. However, the participants were challenged by the lack of societal recognition of pharmacy and by misperceptions about Qatari students, which motivated them to further demonstrate their competencies. CONCLUSIONS: This study will facilitate the understanding of factors that motivate and demotivate Qatari students from joining the pharmacy major and their career aspirations, which will ultimately enhance the development of recruitment strategies geared towards attracting a larger number of qualified and highly motivated Qataris into the pharmacy profession.

Personality traits and personal values as retail pharmacy choice predictors in the context of pharmaceutical care requirements.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists implementing and carrying out Pharmaceutical Care (PhC) need to possess interpersonal ("soft") competencies, similar to physicians, as well as the personality predisposition necessary to maintain effective interpersonal communication involved in a therapeutic relationship. This thesis agrees with John L. Holland's congruence theory according to which the decision to take up a given profession is a specific expression of personality. OBJECTIVES: The presented study aims to examine the premise that a specific personality may be a predictor for the career choices made by pharmacy students that entail building a therapeutic relationship with the patient as part of practising PhC. METHODS: The study was conducted in a group of 211 students at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University in Lublin, ages 21-30 (M = 23.17; SD = 1.26). The reference group (n = 83) was composed of respondents declaring preference for a professional path that implies direct contact with the patient (mainly retail pharmacy in community pharmacies). The control group was composed of students who declared preference for a professional path which does not entail direct contacts with patients. The study employed the Polish version of the NEO-FFI Personality Inventory and the Schwartz Value Survey. RESULTS: There are three key predictors of choosing a particular form of professional activity implying a direct contact with patients. These include the personality traits of neuroticism and openness to experience (negative predictors), as well as the value meta-category of conservation (the strongest positive predictor). CONCLUSION: The presented results suggest the existence of a specific personality characteristic partly favourable for work in direct contact with patients, but not towards the implementation of more innovative forms of practising pharmacy.

Economic Analysis of Obtaining a PharmD Degree and Career as a Pharmacist.

Objective. To evaluate the economic value of pharmacy education/career and the effects of the cost of private or public pharmacy school, the length of degree program, residency training, and pharmacy career path on net career earnings. Methods. This study involved an economic analysis using Markov modeling. Estimated costs of education including student loans were considered in calculating net career earnings of 4 career paths following high school graduation: (1) immediate employment; (2) employment with bachelor's degree in chemistry or biology; (3) employment as a pharmacist with no residency training; and (4) employment as a pharmacist after completing one or two years of residency training. Results. Models indicated that throughout their careers (up to age 67), PharmD graduates may accumulate net career earnings of $5.66 million to $6.29 million, roughly 3.15 times more than high school graduates and 1.57 to 1.73 times more than those with bachelor's degrees in biology or chemistry. Attending a public pharmacy school after completing 3 years of prepharmacy education generally leads to higher net career earnings. Community pharmacists have the highest net career earnings, and PGY-1 residency-trained hospital pharmacists have greater net career earnings than those who immediately started their careers in a hospital setting. Conclusion. The economic models presented are based on assumptions described herein; as conditions are subject to variability, these models should not be used to predict future earnings. Nevertheless, the findings demonstrate investment in a pharmacy education yields favorable financial return. Application of results to schools of pharmacy, students, and graduates is discussed.

La Escuela de Farmacia en el contexto universitario cubano de enero de 1934 a marzo de 1937 / School of Pharmacy in the Cuban universitary context from January 1934 to March 1937

Se presentan los principales aspectos relativos al desempeño de la Escuela de Farmacia de la Universidad de La Habana desde enero de 1934 hasta marzo de 1937. Se destaca el diseño de un ambicioso plan de estudios, que no se pudo evaluar debidamente para su posible aplicación, a causa de la política represiva de los gobiernos de turno que impidió el desarrollo de las actividades académicas y docentes en la Universidad durante dos años. Asimismo se describe el proceso organización del curso extraordinario 1936-1937 bajo la dirección de las autoridades de la de nuevo independiente Facultad de Farmacia(AU)

The main aspects related to the performance of the School of Pharmacy of the University of Havana from January 1934 to March 1937 were presented in this article. The design of an ambitious curriculum was stressed, which could not be duly evaluated for its possible implementation as a result of the repressive policy of the governments in power that hindered the development of the academic activities in the university during two years. The article also described the process of organization of the extraordinary course 1936-1937 under the leadership of the authorities of the once again independent School of Pharmacy(AU)

La carrera de Farmacia en la Universidad de La Habana durante los cursos 1898-1899 y 1899-1900 / The Pharmacy career in La Habana University during 1898-1899 and 1899-1900 courses

Al finalizar la guerra hispano-cubano-americana, cesó el control de la isla de Cuba por la Corona española y comenzó el de los Estados Unidos de América. El traspaso de poderes se produjo el 1ro de enero de 1899, es decir, cuando ya había comenzado el curso 1898-1899 el cual, al igual que el anterior, se desarrolló en condiciones totalmente irregulares como consecuencia de la cruenta y del lógico desbalance entre ambos gobiernos. Aunque durante ese curso continuó vigente el plan de estudios de 1880 (y su reforma de 1887 para las facultades de Farmacia y Medicina), disposiciones y órdenes militares emitidas con posterioridad a enero de 1899 introdujeron sucesivas modificaciones durante este. En el curso 1899-1900 se empezó a aplicar un nuevo plan de estudios, el llamado Plan Lanuza, el cual no conllevó cambios significativos en la ense±anza universitaria, pues se limitó a incorporar de nuevo el período preparatorio para todas las facultades, incrementar el número de càtedras y asignaturas y eliminar los estudios propios del doctorado, aunque no el grado. El Plan Lanuza estuvo solo vigente durante el curso 1899-1900. En este trabajo se presentan los principales hechos que caracterizaron la transición de la Universidad de las manos espa±olas a las estadounidenses y, en particular, los que correspondieron a la Facultad de Farmacia durante los cursos 1898-1899 y 1899-1900(AU)

To finish of the Spanish-American-Cuban war, ceased the control over the Cuban island and started that of the United States of America by The Spanish crown. The transfer was in January 1, 1989, that is, when the course 1898-1899 had begun which, just like the previous one, was developed under conditions totally irregular as consequence of the bloody situation and the logical inequality between both governments. Although during this course remained in use the study plan of 1880 (and its reform of 1880 for the Pharmacy and Medicine Faculties), dispositions and military orders emitted after January, 1889 some successive modifications were introduced. During the 1889-1900 a new study plan was started.tje so called Plan Lanuza Plan, which has not significant changes in university teaching, only incorporated the new preparatory period for all faculties, to increase the number of cathedras and subjects and to eliminate the studies typical of doctorate, although not in the corresponding degree. The Planuza Plan remained only during the course 1889-1900. The aim of present paper was to show the main facts charactering the transition of University from Spanish authorities to American ones and particularly, those corresponding to Pharmacy Faculty during the course 1898-1899 and 1899-1900(AU)

La carrera de Farmacia en la Universidad de La Habana durante los cursos 1898-1899 y 1899-1900 / The Pharmacy career in La Habana University during 1898-1899 and 1899-1900 courses

Al finalizar la guerra hispano-cubano-americana, cesó el control de la isla de Cuba por la Corona española y comenzó el de los Estados Unidos de América. El traspaso de poderes se produjo el 1ro de enero de 1899, es decir, cuando ya había comenzado el curso 1898-1899 el cual, al igual que el anterior, se desarrolló en condiciones totalmente irregulares como consecuencia de la cruenta y del lógico desbalance entre ambos gobiernos. Aunque durante ese curso continuó vigente el plan de estudios de 1880 (y su reforma de 1887 para las facultades de Farmacia y Medicina), disposiciones y órdenes militares emitidas con posterioridad a enero de 1899 introdujeron sucesivas modificaciones durante este. En el curso 1899-1900 se empezó a aplicar un nuevo plan de estudios, el llamado Plan Lanuza, el cual no conllevó cambios significativos en la enseñanza universitaria, pues se limitó a incorporar de nuevo el período preparatorio para todas las facultades, incrementar el número de càtedras y asignaturas y eliminar los estudios propios del doctorado, aunque no el grado. El Plan Lanuza estuvo solo vigente durante el curso 1899-1900. En este trabajo se presentan los principales hechos que caracterizaron la transición de la Universidad de las manos españolas a las estadounidenses y, en particular, los que correspondieron a la Facultad de Farmacia durante los cursos 1898-1899 y 1899-1900.

To finish of the Spanish-American-Cuban war, ceased the control over the Cuban island and started that of the United States of America by The Spanish crown. The transfer was in January 1, 1989, that is, when the course 1898-1899 had begun which, just like the previous one, was developed under conditions totally irregular as consequence of the bloody situation and the logical inequality between both governments. Although during this course remained in use the study plan of 1880 (and its reform of 1880 for the Pharmacy and Medicine Faculties), dispositions and military orders emitted after January, 1889 some successive modifications were introduced. During the 1889-1900 a new study plan was started.tje so called Plan Lanuza Plan, which has not significant changes in university teaching, only incorporated the new preparatory period for all faculties, to increase the number of cathedras and subjects and to eliminate the studies typical of doctorate, although not in the corresponding degree. The Planuza Plan remained only during the course 1889-1900. The aim of present paper was to show the main facts charactering the transition of University from Spanish authorities to American ones and particularly, those corresponding to Pharmacy Faculty during the course 1898-1899 and 1899-1900.