Comparison of self-reported professional competency across pharmacy education programs: a survey of Thai pharmacy graduates enrolled in the public service program

Abstract

Introduction

Thai pharmacy education consists of two undergraduate programs, a 5-year Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (BScPsci and BScPcare) degree and a 6-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D). Pharmacy students who wish to serve in the public sector need to enroll in the public service program. This study aims to compare the perception of professional competency among new pharmacy graduates from the three different pharmacy programs available in 2013 who enrolled in the public service program.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among new pharmacy graduates in 2013 using a self-administered, structured, close-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of respondents’ characteristics and perception of professional competencies. The competency questions consisted of 13 items with a 5-point scale. Data collection was conducted during Thailand’s annual health professional meeting on April 2, 2013 for workplace selection of pharmacy graduates.

Results

A total of 266 new pharmacy graduates responded to the questionnaire (response rate 49.6%). There were no significant differences in sex and admission modes across the three pharmacy programs. Pharm D graduates reported highest competency in acute care services, medication reconciliation services, and primary care services among the other two programs. BScPsci graduates reported more competence in consumer health protection and herbal and alternative medicines than BScPcare graduates. There were significant differences in three competency domains: patient care, consumer protection and community health services, and drug review and information, but no significant differences in the health administration and communication domain among three pharmacy programs.

Conclusion

Despite a complete change into a 6-year Pharm D program in 2014, pharmacy education in Thailand should continue evolving to be responsive to the needs of the health system. An annual survey of new pharmacy graduates should be continued, to monitor changes of professional competency across different program tracks and other factors which may influence their contribution to the health service system. Likewise, a longitudinal monitoring of their competencies in the graduate cohort should be conducted.

Keywords:

• pharmacy education
• professional competency
• pharmacy graduate
• Doctor of Pharmacy
• Thailand

Supplementary material

Table S1 Please assess your competency on these following items

Acknowledgments

This is a collaborative study conducted by the International Health Policy Programme (IHPP) and Praboromarajchanok Institute for Health Workforce Development of the MOPH. Contribution by all pharmacy graduates who participated in the survey are recognized and appreciated. The authors thank Associate Professor Petcharat Pongcharoensuk for her constructive comments that helped improve the manuscript.

Authors contributions

WP and TW designed the study. NS and SS reviewed the literature and designed questionnaire. TW collected the data. SH and NS performed the data analysis. All authors contributed to drafting, revising, and approving the final version of this manuscript.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.