Factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in Saudi Arabia: a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacy
Abstract Background Hundreds of pharmacists graduate from pharmacy colleges in Saudi Arabia, and various factors influence their choice of career pathway. Very few single-institution studies assessed career choices of pharmacy students with or without evaluating the influencing factors. Therefore, t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04022-9 |
| _version_ | 1797945850121420800 |
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| author | Abrar K. Thabit Doaa I. Alghamdi Reem O. Alaqi Muath A. Alsufyani Alaa A. Bagalagel |
| author_facet | Abrar K. Thabit Doaa I. Alghamdi Reem O. Alaqi Muath A. Alsufyani Alaa A. Bagalagel |
| author_sort | Abrar K. Thabit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hundreds of pharmacists graduate from pharmacy colleges in Saudi Arabia, and various factors influence their choice of career pathway. Very few single-institution studies assessed career choices of pharmacy students with or without evaluating the influencing factors. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate career choices and the associating factors of pharmacy interns from multiple colleges in Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that surveyed pharmacy interns from 25 pharmacy colleges in Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire. The survey was sent during the last rotation month in the internship year (May–June 2022). Results Of 454 participants, 411 (90.5%) were enrolled in Doctor of Pharmacy programs. While most participants were interested in becoming clinical pharmacists (n = 183; 40.3%), a considerable number were also interested in working in different sectors of pharmaceutical companies and industry (n = 127; 28%). Internship training significantly correlated with selecting clinical pharmacy specialist career (r = 0.19; P = 0.0001), whereas salary/financial incentives significantly influenced the choice of working as sales and marketing representatives and pharmacy product specialists in pharmaceutical companies (r = 0.29 and 0.24; P < 0.0001 for both). College courses correlated with choosing academia in pharmaceutical sciences (r = 0.20; P < 0.0001), whereas summer training correlated with the community pharmacy career (r = 0.11; P = 0.02). Conclusion Pharmacy colleges should utilize results from this study to enhance the exposure of pharmacy students during their academic years to different pharmacy career pathways by allowing the opportunity to shadow pharmacists from different sectors as part of college courses, inviting previous graduates, and activating the role of academic advisors in career orientation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:02:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ff078fdd1cfd467c9c355298b62a4ba9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:02:43Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-ff078fdd1cfd467c9c355298b62a4ba92023-01-22T12:17:16ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202023-01-012311810.1186/s12909-023-04022-9Factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in Saudi Arabia: a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacyAbrar K. Thabit0Doaa I. Alghamdi1Reem O. Alaqi2Muath A. Alsufyani3Alaa A. Bagalagel4Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz UniversityPharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, Jazan UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura UniversityPharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz UniversityAbstract Background Hundreds of pharmacists graduate from pharmacy colleges in Saudi Arabia, and various factors influence their choice of career pathway. Very few single-institution studies assessed career choices of pharmacy students with or without evaluating the influencing factors. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate career choices and the associating factors of pharmacy interns from multiple colleges in Saudi Arabia. Methods This was a cross-sectional study that surveyed pharmacy interns from 25 pharmacy colleges in Saudi Arabia using an online questionnaire. The survey was sent during the last rotation month in the internship year (May–June 2022). Results Of 454 participants, 411 (90.5%) were enrolled in Doctor of Pharmacy programs. While most participants were interested in becoming clinical pharmacists (n = 183; 40.3%), a considerable number were also interested in working in different sectors of pharmaceutical companies and industry (n = 127; 28%). Internship training significantly correlated with selecting clinical pharmacy specialist career (r = 0.19; P = 0.0001), whereas salary/financial incentives significantly influenced the choice of working as sales and marketing representatives and pharmacy product specialists in pharmaceutical companies (r = 0.29 and 0.24; P < 0.0001 for both). College courses correlated with choosing academia in pharmaceutical sciences (r = 0.20; P < 0.0001), whereas summer training correlated with the community pharmacy career (r = 0.11; P = 0.02). Conclusion Pharmacy colleges should utilize results from this study to enhance the exposure of pharmacy students during their academic years to different pharmacy career pathways by allowing the opportunity to shadow pharmacists from different sectors as part of college courses, inviting previous graduates, and activating the role of academic advisors in career orientation.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04022-9PharmacyPharmacistsStudents, pharmacyCareer choiceInternship and residencySaudi Arabia |
| spellingShingle | Abrar K. Thabit Doaa I. Alghamdi Reem O. Alaqi Muath A. Alsufyani Alaa A. Bagalagel Factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in Saudi Arabia: a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacy BMC Medical Education Pharmacy Pharmacists Students, pharmacy Career choice Internship and residency Saudi Arabia |
| title | Factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in Saudi Arabia: a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacy |
| title_full | Factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in Saudi Arabia: a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacy |
| title_fullStr | Factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in Saudi Arabia: a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in Saudi Arabia: a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacy |
| title_short | Factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in Saudi Arabia: a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacy |
| title_sort | factors influencing future career interests of pharmacy interns in saudi arabia a survey from 25 colleges of pharmacy |
| topic | Pharmacy Pharmacists Students, pharmacy Career choice Internship and residency Saudi Arabia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04022-9 |
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