The Effect of Time and Progressing Education on PharmD Students' Career Pathway Interests

Class of 2022 Abstract, Report and PosterSpecific Aims: This study aimed to determine if the career path interests of PharmD students changed as students progressed through pharmacy school. It compared the career path interests based on year of study, graduating class, and evaluated the career path interests of each class in their respective academic years. Methods: A career interest questionnaire conducted yearly to all PharmD students (twice to first year students) enrolled at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy between Fall 2019 and Spring 2021, collected career interest choices as PharmD students progressed in the program. Data obtained was used in this descriptive study and analyzed using R Core Team (2020) software (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Version 4.0.1, Vienna, Austria.) Results: A total of 955 responses (244 from first year, 252 from second year, 244 from third year, and 215 from fourth year pharmacy students) were analyzed. P1 students generally showed a top career interest in hospital pharmacy that transitioned to a top interest in community pharmacy for P2 and P3 students, with a top interest in either community or clinical pharmacy for P4 students. Clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, and ambulatory care were the major pharmacy career interest specialties. Conclusions: PharmD students progressing through the program showed changes in career interests from more clinical environments to community pharmacy and back again. Top choices may have been affected by internal and external factors, but further studies could examine why students make their interest choices.This item is part of the Pharmacy Student Research Projects collection, made available by the College of Pharmacy and the University Libraries at the University of Arizona. For more information about items in this collection, please contact Jennifer Martin, Librarian and Clinical Instructor, Pharmacy Practice and Science, jenmartin@email.arizona.edu