Student pharmacists' perceptions of their professional identity

Abstract

Specific Aim(s): To identify and describe the self-perceptions of student pharmacists’ professional identity, to compare differences in professional identity between class cohort years of student pharmacists, and to evaluate how student pharmacists perceived their “role models” at one college of pharmacy in the southwestern United States. Methods: Data were collected using an online questionnaire that incorporated professional identity constructs identified from previous research. The questionnaire was administered to student pharmacists in all cohorts of a four-year professional pharmacy program in a southwestern state of the United States to collect data about their perceptions of the pharmacists' professional identity and how they see their “role models”. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests. Main Results: With a 24% response rate (N=116/487), no relationship was found between the agreement level with a professional identity and student pharmacist cohort year. “Medicine Adviser” was the most frequently endorsed professional identity (37%); however, student pharmacists primarily described their role models as “Clinical Practitioner” (38%). This study also found that the predominant professional identities were dissimilar to those reported in previous research. Conclusions: While no relationship was found between student pharmacists' professional identity preferences and cohorts, multiple divisive professional identities were concurrently endorsed. The findings of this study demonstrate the inability of pharmacy profession to consolidate its identity which continues to impair the professional development of student pharmacists. Given the unclear professional identity of the pharmacy profession and many barriers to improving professional identity development, this suggests additional professional identity training, curricular modification, and faculty support is warranted.