Survey finds pharmacy ownership the top ambition for students
The Pharmacy Practice Research Trust
The Pharmacy Practice Trust was established by the
Society in July 1999 as an independent research charity with a
broad objective
to promote and develop the field of pharmacy practice research.
Its trustees are drawn from among senior health policy makers,
leading academics, industrialists and retailers. As an independent
research charity, the trust aims to promote research that will
enable policy makers, manufacturers, prescribers and others
to
better understand the people and the contexts in which they
use and take medicines.
Further information about the trust is available from Beth
Allen at the Society
tel 020 7572 2466
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Research carried out as part of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society's investigation into the pharmacy workforce has shown that ownership of a community pharmacy is most commonly selected as the top career ambition among pharmacy students.
The findings appear in a new report, “Pharmacy undergraduate student
career choices and expectations across a four-year degree programme”.
The study, commissioned by the Pharmacy Practice Research Trust — founded
and funded by the Society — and undertaken by a research team at
Aston University, had the aims of contributing to the Society’s
ongoing programme of study of the pharmacy workforce by establishing
a baseline of careers aspirations, motivations and expectations of students
across the UK.
The report reviews student entry data from the Universities and Colleges
Admissions Service over the past four
years and shows trends within the diverse population recruited into pharmacy.
The study also explores students’ motivations, influences on them,
factors affecting their choice of school of pharmacy, their perceptions
of career image, their future career ambitions, issues around their work-life
balance and influences of the school of pharmacy.
The survey was carried out in 2005 among first-year and final-year students
from 13 UK schools of pharmacy. Some of the key findings were:
· Employment opportunities were the most important influence
· Universities play a key role in influencing student decisions through
open days and visits
· Work experience was the strongest positive personal influence upon
students
· The option of working full time until retirement was not the accepted
pattern for future work
· Between a third and a half of students were considering part-time or
locum employment as their future work pattern even at first-year stage
· Only 8 per cent of first-year students and 12 per cent of final-year
students saw their future as employees in community pharmacy but interest
in community pharmacy ownership was strong, particularly from male and
Asian students
· Community pharmacy ownership was
the most commonly selected top career ambition
Keith Wilson, lead researcher of the Aston University research team,
said: “The study was based upon a model of rational choice theory.
Although some of the findings confirmed what was already expected or
partially known, we concluded that from the students’ perspective
they were making rational choices about their future career in pharmacy,
which were heavily influenced by employment prospects.
“However, in many respects, career ambitions of students were out
of line with current employment trends, notably in the decreasing opportunities
for pharmacy ownership.”
Professor Wilson added: “It was notable that there was hardly any
difference between the views and perceptions of first- and final-year
students. On a positive note, even after four years’ study the
vast majority were certain they had made the right choice.”
The report can be accessed on the Society’s website by clicking on “Download Documents” on
the homepage and then “R” for research reports.
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The
Pharmaceutical Journal