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Choosing To Study Pharmacy: Measuring Influences and Motivations
Choosing To Study Pharmacy: Measuring Influences and Motivations
1
Aston Business School, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET
2
School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET.
Abstract
This paper reports part of a national study of career motivations and expectations of United Kingdom MPharm students. The aim
was to describe the students’ influences and motivations in making their choice to study pharmacy. A self-completion
questionnaire was administered to year one and year four students in thirteen pharmacy schools during 2005.
The reasons considered most important were objective ones that related to self-interest, both in terms of the nature of the degree
course and the advantages conferred by the degree. However, there was evidence that for female students, future patterns of
working that are not central to career progression were considered more important than for males.
At a time of expanding demand by students for pharmacy education and a parallel demand for qualified pharmacists, this study
adds to earlier knowledge on the motivations and influences on students when making their early career choices.
Introduction to, study for and join the profession? It is surprising that since
What drives young people to apply to study pharmacy? Is it the 1980s so little research has been published on this
because they like science or because pharmacy is seen as a important aspect of the ‘recruitment – education – output’
secure career with good prospects and no likelihood of process.
unemployment? There is currently an international shortage
of pharmacists (International Pharmaceutical Federation,
2006). In the United Kingdom (UK) the majority of One influence upon perceptions of the profession is the image
healthcare professionals are employed in the public sector by portrayed by the profession itself through its publicity
the National Health Service (NHS), yet the majority of materials. In the UK, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of
pharmacists (70%) are employed by the private sector in Great Britain (RPSGB) sets professional standards for
community pharmacy. Whist a current downturn in education and practice. The RPSGB website displays
employment opportunities for physiotherapists, nurses and information on a career in pharmacy which emphasises an
doctors causes concern, at the time of this study, the demand interest in science and the very positive working opportunities
for pharmacists appeared to be unaffected by the political and (2007):
financial problems of government policy (Wilson et al.,
2006).
A career in pharmacy offers:
The pursuit of an interest in science.
When it comes to deciding which degree course to apply for, The opportunity to join the NHS healthcare team.
who or what is it that influences that early decision to A choice of working environments.
consider pharmacy? More importantly for the profession, A competitive salary.
what can be done to encourage more good students to apply
*Correspondence: C Langley, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET. Tel:
+44 1212043979. Email: c.a.langley@aston.ac.uk
did vary markedly from each school of pharmacy as shown in representation of white students and an under-representation
Table I. of Asian students in the fourth year survey.
Table I: Survey response rate by school (for the 13 schools included in the Table III: Ethnicity of respondents to first and fourth year careers
study) and overall average response rate (final row). questionnaires
First year response Fourth year response Overall response rate First year 2003 UCAS Fourth year 2001
rate (%) rate (%) (%) Questionnaire data (%) Questionnaire UCAS
data (%) data (%) data (%)
40.7 47.3 44.0 White 42.8 39.8 55.6 35.4
34.1 60.4 44.8 Black 9.3 9.7 5 10.4
stated that the most important personal factors for choosing to students, “I was influenced by pharmacy work experience”.
study pharmacy were the influence of pharmacy work This was rated as important by 50% (n=278) of white students
experience and parents encouraging them to study. The least compared with 40% (n=147) of Asian students (Chi, p <0.01).
important factors were the influence of friends and a family
member owning a pharmacy.
Figure 1: Importance of education related reasons why people choose to Figure 2: Importance of personal reasons why people choose to study
study pharmacy. pharmacy
(Results are shown as the difference between the percent of respondents who (Results are shown as the difference between the percent of respondents who
rated as important and the percent who rated as not-important. ) rated as important and the percent who rated as not-important. )
1st year 4th year
20 10
10
0
% importance
% importance
-10 a b c d e f g h -10 a b c d e f
-20
-20
-30
-30
-40
-50 -40
-60
Statement -50
KEY: -60
Statement
a A subject teacher at school / college
KEY:
b A careers teacher at school / college
a My parents encouraged me to choose pharmacy
c A visit to a careers fair / conference
b My family encouraged me to choose pharmacy
d A visit to a university open day
c Someone in my family who owns a pharmacy influenced me
e A university prospectus
d I was influenced by a pharmacist I know, as a role model
f Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain literature
e My friends influenced me
g Radio or TV programme
f I was influenced by pharmacy work experience
h Careers leaflets or booklets
Figure 3: Career aspects as influences on decision to study pharmacy. 35.2%. This rate is low, but typical of a one shot survey
(Jesson and Pocock, 2001). Slippage in design and negotiation
(Results are shown as the difference between the percent of respondents who with schools meant that the timing of administration was late
rated as important and the percent who rated as not-important. )
in the academic year. In most schools students are less likely
to be in the university at this time because taught courses have
1st year 4th year finished. Yet the uneven response rate (see Table I) shows
100 that where students were asked to compete during lecturer
contact time, a high response rate was possible. A further
80
factor to take into account was the overload on schools of
60
research and surveys at that time, at least three national level
studies were being conducted at the same time and there was
some confusion about duplication of effort on career surveys.
% importance
40
Nevertheless, comparisons for sex and ethnicity with UCAS
20 application data indicated that the sample of responders was
similar to the population.
0
a b c d e f g h I j k l m n o
-20
The key limitation of this study is the low response rate of I wanted the opportunity 35% (n=120) 22% (n=176)
for self-employment
84 Jesson, Langley & Wilson
Conclusion Wilson, K., Jesson, J., Langley, C., Clarke, L. & Hatfield, K.
(2006) Pharmacy undergraduate students: career choices
The choice of pharmacy as a career to study appears to reflect and expectations across a four-year degree programme.
a rational choice. The reasons considered most important Report commissioned by the Pharmacy Practice Research
were objective ones that related to self-interest, both in terms Trust.
of the nature of the degree course and the advantages
conferred by the degree. However, there was evidence that for
female students, future patterns of working that are not central
to career progression were considered more important than
for males (e.g. flexible working). Issues of gender and
ethnicity should be followed up in future research.