Factors That Determine Career Choice in Pharm.D. Candidates: a Focus Group Study

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of the study is to describe which factors influence career choice in Pharm.D. candidates, and determine what makes a potential employer attractive to graduating students. Methods: A descriptive focus group study was conducted to describe opinions of Pharm.D. candidates regarding factors that determine career choice. Subjects were recruited via email. All participants were required to have a scheduled graduation date in 2015 or 2016. Demographic data was collected anonymously. Focus group conversations were recorded. Results: There were 13 participants, 8 female (61.5%) and 5 male (38.5%). Six (46.2%) hope to work in the retail setting after graduation, and 5 (38.5%) wish to work in an institutional setting. Four participants (30.1%) plan to complete a PGY1 residency after graduation. Ten participants (76.8%) agree that they would consider working for their current employer after graduation from pharmacy school. The majority of participants changed their mind throughout their education in regards to their future career choice. Rotations, professors, employers, and family seem to be the most common factors that helped determine career choice in participants. All participants agreed that clinical pharmacy and residency are promoted career paths at University of Arizona. Conclusions: The clinical pharmacy career path is believed to be strongly promoted at the University of Arizona. Rotations, professors, family, and employers during pharmacy school appear to be determining factors in career choice for Pharm.D. candidates. Many students pursue a career with the same employer they had during their education.