Syrian pharmacy students' intentions and attitudes toward postgraduate education

Gauging the learning environment at Damascus University Pharmacy School in Syria using the DREEM questionnaire: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: This study was undertaken to provide the first record of evaluation of the educational environment of the Bachelor of Pharmacy program at Damascus University (DU), Syria using the internationally adopted Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) tool and compare it with other pharmacy schools around the world. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at DU Pharmacy School in 2022. The validated DREEM 50-item inventory was added to Google Forms and used to collect data electronically. River sampling and snowball sampling methods were used. Data was collected during the second term between April 2022 and June 2022. Students from all years were included. Results: A total of 269 students completed the questionnaire; that is about 6.7% of the total population. The Cronbach's alpha of the DREEM questionnaire was 0.94. The total DREEM score was 89.8±32.1/200. Senior students scored significantly less on the DREEM scale than their younger counterparts. DU Pharmacy School scored significantly less on the total DREEM score than its other counterparts around the world with a large effect size (d>0.80). All subscales scored below 50% and the lowest scoring subscales were students' perception of learning (SPL=41.8%) and students' perception of the social environment (SSP=42.5%). Conclusions: The findings implied that the educational environment is in need of major improvement, especially in areas related to teaching and learning practices and the general social environment; failure to address the current issues in the learning environment might hinder learning and clinical practice of the future generation of pharmacists. This study provides a quality improvement map which could be used preciously address the areas that need most attention at DU Pharmacy School.

Motivation, satisfaction, and future career intentions of pharmacy students: A cross-sectional preliminary analysis

INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the pharmacy profession has undergone many changes that impacted pharmacy educational programs and students' needs and experiences. In Lebanon, no previous studies have addressed students' perspectives of pharmacy studies and their future aspirations.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was randomly sent to all pharmacy students at the main campus of the Lebanese International University. Questions included demographics, students' reasons for choosing pharmacy, satisfaction regarding choice of pharmacy, and future career plans.

RESULTS

Pharmacy as a study major was the first choice for 61% of respondents, and reasons for this choice were family recommendations (87%), friends' encouragement (26%), and schoolteachers' endorsements (20%). Looking for a job with various career opportunities, flexible working hours, security, good salary, and wishing to provide public service and improve health were the main incentives to join the pharmacy program. Concerning their satisfaction, 88% were proud of studying pharmacy and 66% would choose to study pharmacy if they were to select their program of study again. As for career intentions, 68% were considering community pharmacy, 66% hospital pharmacy, and 60% academic pharmacy.

CONCLUSIONS

While the attitudes, perceptions, and career intentions of the respondents were variable, the majority were aspired by family or societal factors to study pharmacy, were satisfied by their choice, and intended to work in the community pharmacy sector. Pharmacy curricula should be regularly assessed to meet students' expectations and society's needs.

Gauging the learning environment at Damascus University Pharmacy School in Syria using the DREEM questionnaire: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: This study was undertaken to provide the first record of evaluation of the educational environment of the Bachelor of Pharmacy program at Damascus University (DU), Syria using the internationally adopted Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) tool and compare it with other pharmacy schools around the world.   Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at DU Pharmacy School in 2022. The validated DREEM 50-item inventory was added to Google Forms and used to collect data electronically. Data was collected during the second term between April 2022 and June 2022. Students from all years were included.   Results: A total of 269 students completed the questionnaire. The Cronbach’s alpha of the DREEM questionnaire was 0.94. The total DREEM score was 89.8±32.1/200. DU Pharmacy School scored significantly less on the total DREEM score than its other counterparts around the world with a large effect size (d>0.80). All subscales scored below 50% and the lowest scoring subscales were students’ perception of learning (SPL=41.8%) and students’ perception of the social environment (SSP=42.5%).   Conclusions: This study provides the first assessment of the learning environment at DU Pharmacy School. The findings implied that the educational environment is in need of major improvement, especially in areas related to teaching and learning practices and the general social environment; future research should focus on designing interventions that could effectively address these potential areas of improvement.

Pharmacy students' level of financial literacy and its differences among students with various career intentions

BACKGROUND

Many pharmacy students will work at managerial positions after graduation, so policymakers' awareness from their level of financial literacy and intentions regarding their future career field and path might be helpful to identify existing gaps and needed interventions. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of financial literacy among pharmacy students and their intentions regarding career path and field.

METHODS

Data were gathered in early 2018 using a questionnaire which consisted of three parts: questions on financial literacy, career intentions, and participants' characteristics. Data analysis included descriptive analysis, comparison of the level of financial literacy and career intention among different demographic groups, as well as the comparison of the level of financial literacy among students preferring various career fields and paths.

RESULTS

A total of 173 usable questionnaires were gathered. Significant differences were observed in terms of the level of financial literacy between various groups of students' personal income, term of education, and history of receiving finance-related information from people around them. Students showed more weakness in responding to questions related to investment. It was also revealed that students with higher scores in financial literacy gave priority to fast entrance to the job market compared to other suggested career paths.

CONCLUSIONS

Although improvement in all aspects of financial literacy seem required for the studied population, more weakness was observed in terms of investment questions. Community pharmacy and rapid entrance to the work market were the preferred career field and path, respectively.

Attitudes of pharmacy students towards scientific research and academic career in Saudi Arabia

Background

Academic research is an essential part of undergraduate and post graduate education to become qualified health care professionals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the attitudes of pharmacy students towards scientific research and/or academic careers in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey based study was conducted among pharmacy students at King Saud University. A self-administered questionnaire was implemented over a period of 3 months (January to March 2018).

Results

A total of 223 students returned the survey. More than one third students (66.3%) agreed that participation in research increased their interest in pursuing a career in research/academic pharmacy. Most students (75.3%) were interested in participating research during the course of study and 73.6% believed that research training should be a compulsory part of teaching curriculum. In addition, more than half of students (54.5%) were interested in higher studies such as PhD after graduation. Most of students (70.3%) ranked lifestyle (73.6%) and earning potential (70.3%) as an important factor for them when choosing a specialty.

Conclusions

Pharmacy students had positive attitudes towards research activities and they desired to be involved more in research publications. However, addressing the barriers and improving student participation will increase their interest in academic research.

Competency-based pharmacy education in the Eastern Mediterranean Region-A scoping review

BACKGROUND

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Global Competency Framework (GbCF) was developed as a mapping tool to provide guidance for foundation level pharmacy practice and professional development. The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) with a deep rooted pharmacy history is yet to adopt an explicit competency framework.

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature for evidence of competency-based pharmacy education in the EMR, including pharmacists' and pharmacy students' perceptions of knowledge and skills acquired during training at undergraduate, post-graduate, and life-long learning levels.

METHODS

Six electronic databases were searched for articles published between 1990 and 2014. Titles and abstracts were screened according to the inclusion criteria. Full articles identified for inclusion were assessed and mapped to a relevant domain of the GbCF.

RESULTS

Totally, 57 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies portrayed pharmacists' and pharmacy students' opinions regarding educational aspects of their experiences. Participants generally cited the need for more practice-based training, modernization of curriculum, continuing pharmacist education and greater involvement in public health promotion, and research to strengthen professional competency. Interventional studies-enhanced knowledge and skills after training was provided to pharmacists and pharmacy students. No studies pertaining to the organization and management domain of the GbCF were found.

CONCLUSION

Despite paucity of studies that specifically investigated aspects of competency-based pharmacy education in the EMR, results provided impressions of what participants perceived as beneficial, or lacking in their education to attain certain competencies. Results point toward the need to implement a competency framework specific to the EMR.