Associations Between Pharmacy Students' Attitudes Toward Debt, Stress, and Student Loans

Objective. To assess graduating pharmacy students' attitudes toward debt and determine associations with stress, student loan debt, financial need, current employment, post-graduation plans, and expected length of time to repay loans. Methods. Survey was conducted using an attitudes-toward-debt scale (sub-scales: tolerant attitudes toward debt; contemplation and knowledge about loans; fear of debt), Perceived Stress Scale, and questions concerning current employment, estimated total student loan debt, post-graduation plans, and expected length of time to repay loans. Federal loan data were collected using financial aid records. Independent samples t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's r correlations were conducted. Results. There were 147 students (96.7%) who participated. The majority were female (59.2%), white (69.4%), and had federal student loans (90.5%). Mean total loan amount was $153,276 (SD $59,810), which included federal students loans accumulated before and during pharmacy school. No significant differences were noted on attitudes toward debt or stress based on whether respondents had federal student loans. Greater "fear of debt" was correlated with increased stress, estimated total student loan debt, total federal loan debt, and pharmacy school loan debt. Greater "contemplation and knowledge about loans" was correlated with lower estimated total student loan debt, total federal loan amount, and pharmacy school loan amount. Students with higher "contemplation and knowledge" scores expected to repay loans within a shorter time frame than students with lower scores. Conclusion. Increased fear of debt was related to greater perceived stress and higher student loan amounts borrowed, while increased contemplation and knowledge about loans was associated with lower amounts borrowed. Educational programming concerning loans, debt, and personal financial management may help reduce stress and amount borrowed.

Development of an Instrument to Measure Pharmacy Student Attitudes Toward Social Media Professionalism

Objectives. To develop and validate a scale measuring pharmacy students' attitudes toward social media professionalism, and assess the impact of an educational presentation on social media professionalism. Methods. A social media professionalism scale was used in a pre- and post-survey to determine the effects of a social media professionalism presentation. The 26-item scale was administered to 197 first-year pharmacy (P1) students during orientation. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to determine the number of underlying factors responsible for covariation of the data. Principal components analysis was used as the extraction method. Varimax was selected as the rotation method. Cronbach's alpha was estimated. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare pre- and post-scores of each item, subscale, and total scale. Results. There were 187 (95%) students who participated. The final scale had five subscales and 15 items. Subscales were named according to the professionalism tenet they best represented. Scores of items addressing reading/posting to social media during class, an employer's use of social media when making hiring decisions, and a college/university's use of social media as a measure of professional conduct significantly increased from pre-test to post-test. The "honesty and integrity" subscale score also significantly increased. Conclusion. The social media professionalism scale measures five tenets of professionalism and exhibits satisfactory reliability. The presentation improved P1 students' attitudes regarding social media professionalism.

Staff support for mothers to provide breast milk in pediatric hospitals and neonatal units

This paper reports on two surveys of nurses and midwives working in a large pediatric hospital and three neonatal units in London, England, regarding support for mothers to provide breast milk. One hundred and twenty-two pediatric staff and 55 neonatal staff returned the questionnaires. Fifty-three percent of pediatric staff had received no training in breastfeeding during or after nursing school. Twenty-two percent of neonatal staff had no relevant training, yet they frequently were asked to help mothers in providing breast milk for their infant. Some respondents demonstrated lack of relevant knowledge including the importance of breast milk, ideal frequencies for milk expression, and the potential to establish lactation at any time. There was a wide range of comments on the barriers in providing breast milk. These results illustrate the need for appropriate breastfeeding policies and staff training. There is a particular lack of studies based in the United Kingdom on breastfeeding in pediatric units. It is hoped that this article will generate discussion among staff about the breastfeeding support they offer and ways to strengthen it.

The impact of prematurity and neonatal illness on the decision to breast-feed

This paper reports on a qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study of infant feeding practices made in three neonatal intensive care units. Findings from interviews with 44 mothers of diverse ethnic origin, social class, age and gestation at delivery are reported. All the mothers interviewed had at some time provided breast milk and rates of breast-feeding on these units were higher than the national average. Eight mothers reported changing their mind about feeding methods after their baby was admitted, including three changes from formula to breast-feeding. Mothers' perceptions with regard to milk expression and their expressing history gave indications of factors underlying decisions to provide breast milk and the quality of support to do so. While mothers considered overall support to have been good, notably 35% of mothers had themselves suggested that they express milk, nearly half did not start expressing for 2 or more days, 43% expressed fewer than four times a day and 48% of mothers had received conflicting advice. There were some difficulties with both the hospital facilities and with expressing milk at home. There is a need for more consistent advice and practical help to be given to mothers.