Are we on the right track? Answers from a national survey of Thai graduates’ perceptions during the transition to the 6-year PharmD program

Abstract

Purpose

To serve the higher demands of pharmaceutical services, pharmacy education in Thailand has shifted from 5-year BPharm program to 6-year PharmD program with two specialization tracks: pharmaceutical care (PC) and industrial pharmacy (IP). This study aimed to compare the perceptions regarding professional competencies, pharmacy profession, and planned workplace between graduates with 5-year BPharm and 6-year PharmD and between those with PC and IP specialty.

Methods

A cross-sectional national survey using a paper–pencil self-administered questionnaire was distributed to all new graduates attending the pharmacy licensure examination in March 2015.

Results

Of all 1,937 questionnaires distributed, 1,744 were returned and completed (90% response rate). Pharmacy graduates rated highest on their competencies in professional ethics, followed by PC services and system management. They rated low confidence in medication selection procurement and pharmaceutical industry competencies. The 6-year PharmD graduates showed higher confidence in ethics and professional pride than the 5-year BPharm graduates. Graduates with PC specialty rated higher perceived competency in PC, system management, primary care, and consumer protection domains, while the IP graduates were superior in IP and medication selection and procurement domains, and most graduates (PC and IP) intended to work mainly in a hospital or a community pharmacy. Hospital was preferred for the PC graduates, and the IP graduates were more likely to work in pharmaceutical industry, regulation and consumer protection, sales and marketing, and academia.

Conclusion

With some gaps still to be filled, the transition from 5-year BPharm to 6-year PharmD program with specialty tracks gave extra confidence to graduates in their specialty competencies and professional pride, leading to differences in preferred workplace. The findings of this study reflect that Thai pharmacy education continues to adjust to the needs of the society and the changing health care environments. Longitudinal monitoring to observe this transition is needed for both curriculum adjustment and competency of the graduates.

Keywords:

• attitude
• pharmacy education
• PharmD curriculum
• competency
• transition
• Thailand

Supplementary material

Table S1 Factor analysis for Thai pharmacy core professional competencies

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank various people for their contributions to the study; the pharmacy graduates for their participation; The Pharmacy Council of Thailand, the Pharmacy

Author contributions

All authors contributed toward data analysis, drafting and critically revising the paper and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.