Factors that determine career choice in Pharm.D. candidates: a focus group study

Megan Handley, Pharm.D.1, Kevin Boesen, Pharm.D.2 1College of Pharmacy, 2Chief Executive Officer Sinfonia Rx

IV. RESULTS Key Findings •  There were 13 participants, 8 female (61.5%) and 5 male (38.5%). Six

(46.2%) hope to work in the retail setting after graduation, and 5 (38.5%) wish to work in an institutional setting.

•  Ten participants (76.8%) agree that they would consider working for their current employer after graduation from pharmacy school. The majority of participants changed their mind throughout their education in regards to their future career choice.

•  Rotations, professors, employers, and family seem to be the most common factors that helped determine career choice in participants.

•  All participants agreed that clinical pharmacy and residency are promoted career paths at University of Arizona.

•  Almost all employed participants would work for their current employer after graduation.

•  Managed care and industry were two commonly mentioned career paths that students wanted more exposure to during education.

•  Most participants did not think GPA should be a factor in the hiring process for pharmacists.

VII. DISCLOSURE The authors of this presentation have the following to disclose concerning possible financial or personal relationships with commercial entities that may have a direct or indirect interest in the subject matter of this presentation: Megan Handley, Kevin Boesen: Nothing to disclose.

V. LIMITATIONS •  Small sample size and only two focus groups conducted limiting the power of the

study. •  Not optimal study design to draw conclusions •  Low generalizability since only University of Arizona College of Pharmacy

students were invited to participate. •  Possible bias due to the nature of primary investigator’s employer and experience

in retail. •  Focus group design may affect the opinions of participants.

VI. CONCLUSIONS •  Student experiences during pharmacy school largely seem to influence

career choice of Pharm.D. candidates. These influencing experiences include: employment, professors’ opinions, and rotations.

•  Salary greatly influences career choice, especially in the aspect of residencies. Many students expressed that they did not complete a residency due to the pay cut it necessitates.

•  The pharmacy program at the University of Arizona strongly emphasizes residencies and clinical pharmacist positions. This is likely different depending on the pharmacy program.

•  Further study needs to be conducted to determine which career choices are more common at various pharmacy programs and why. Once these information is available, students can decide which pharmacy program caters best to their career goals.

II. PURPOSE AND SPECIFIC AIMS •  The purpose of this study was to describe through focus groups which factors

influence career practice setting in Pharm.D. candidates. In addition, the study described factors that make a certain pharmacist employer more appealing than others.

•  The working hypothesis is that Pharm.D. candidates are more inclined to choose careers in a clinical setting due to larger clinical responsibilities, professors opinions and experience, and salary. It is also hypothesized that employment history, salary, clinical responsibilities, and schedule will be factors that influence a student’s choice of employer within the same practice setting.

I. ABSTRACT Objective The objective of the study is to describe which factors influence career choice in Pharm.D. candidates, and determine what makes a potential employer attractive to graduating students. Methods A descriptive focus group study was conducted to describe opinions of Pharm.D. candidates regarding factors that determine career choice. Subjects were recruited via email. All participants were required to have a scheduled graduation date in 2015 or 2016. Demographic data was collected anonymously. Focus group conversations were recorded. Results There were 13 participants, 8 female (61.5%) and 5 male (38.5%). Six (46.2%) hope to work in the retail setting after graduation, and 5 (38.5%) wish to work in an institutional setting. Four participants (30.1%) plan to complete a PGY1 residency after graduation. Ten participants (76.8%) agree that they would consider working for their current employer after graduation from pharmacy school. The majority of participants changed their mind throughout their education in regards to their future career choice. Rotations, professors, employers, and family seem to be the most common factors that helped determine career choice in participants. All participants agreed that clinical pharmacy and residency are promoted career paths at University of Arizona. Conclusions The pharmacy students at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy believe the clinical pharmacy career path is is strongly promoted during their education over other career options. Rotations, professors, family, and employers during pharmacy school appear to be determining factors in career choice for Pharm.D. candidates based on the results of the focus group study. Many students pursue a career with the same employer they had during their education. Based on the results of this study, it is evident that experiences during pharmacy school, including choice of pharmacy school, likely affect career choice in Pharm.D. candidates.

III. METHODS •  Design: This study was a descriptive, qualitative, prospective focus group study of

the opinions of current Pharm.D. candidates in regards to factors that determine career choice in future pharmacists.

•  The study was approved by the University of Arizona Institutional Review Board. •  Subjects: To be eligible for this study, participants had to be a current Pharm.D.

candidate at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy in at least their third year of the Pharm.D. curriculum (2 years completed). To recruit subjects, an email was sent to the University of Arizona Class of 2015 ad 2016 listservs informing potential participants of the upcoming focus group study.

•  There were two focus groups conducted, one with 7 participants and the other with 6 participants.

•  Data was collected by first distributing the demographic data collection form at the beginning of each focus group. Then, the focus group was conducted using the focus group interview guide to lead the conversation. Data collection was completed via the focus group data extraction form. The sessions were recorded upon consent of all participants and stored at the practice site.

IV. RESULTS

Baseline Characteristics Average age 25.1 years (SD=1.38) Year in pharmacy school 3RD year: 5 (38.5%)

4TH year: 8 (61.5%) Sex 8 FEMALES (61.5%)

5 MALES (38.5%) Preferred practice setting after graduation

Community/Retail: 6 (46.2%)

Institutional/Hospital (no residency): 1 (7.7%)

Institutional/Hospital (residency required, clinical position): 4 (30.8%)

Other: 2 (15.4%) Ambulatory care, MTM

Employment status Unemployed: 3 (23.1%) Paid Intern: 10 (76.9%)

Current employer Albertsons, Target, Walgreens (2), Medication Management Center (2), Banner University Medical Center, Tucson Medical Center, University of Arizona College of Pharmacy

Average time with current employer

2.94 years (SD=0.88)

Plan to complete PGY1 residency after graduation

Strongly agree: 4 (30.8%) Disagree strongly: 3 (23.1%) Not applicable: 6 (46.2%)

Plan to complete PGY2 residency after graduation

Strongly agree: 3 (23.1%) Agree: 1 (7.7%)

Disagree strongly: 2 (15.4%) Not applicable: 7 (53.8%)

Would consider working for current employer

Strongly agree: 5 (38.5%) Agree: 5 (38.5%) Not applicable: 3 (23.1%)

Changed career choice since first year of pharmacy school

Strongly agree: 1 (7.7%) Agree: 4 (30.8%) Somewhat agree: 2 (15.4%)

Somewhat disagree: 1 (7.7%) Disagree: 2 (15.4%) Disagree strongly: 3 (23.1%)

School, professors, and colleagues have had an effect on preference in practice setting

Strongly agree: 4 (30.8%) Agree: 3 (23.1%) Somewhat agree: 1 (7.7%)

Disagree: 3 (23.1%) Disagree strongly: 2 (15.4%)

Interview Responses When did you start thinking about what type of pharmacy career you wanted to have? What factors swayed your opinion?  

Salary, rotations, patient interaction, employment during pharmacy school, hours.

What/who helped you determine your future career choice?

Rotations, pharmacists, mentors, professors, work, family

If you are currently employed in a pharmacy, would you consider working for your current employer as a pharmacist?

Most would consider working for their current employer.

Does it affect your career choice if a potential employer sells tobacco products? Why or why not?

Most participants (9) said the sale of tobacco products would not affect their career choice.

Do you think a certain career path has been endorsed more than others during your education? If yes, which career path?

All participants thought hospital pharmacy and/or residency are promoted at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy.

Do you think you are adequately exposed to all career options during your education? Which career path would you like more exposure to during your education, rotations, etc.?

Most participants think they are adequately exposed to all career options. Managed care and industry were two areas multiple participants mentioned wanting more exposure to.

Do you think residencies are promoted during your education? What makes residencies appealing and unappealing?

All participants thought residencies were highly promoted at the University of Arizona. The appealing aspects mentioned included: prestige, specializing, education, and training. Unappealing aspects mentioned included: pay cut and long hours.

Do you think GPA should be a factor in the hiring process of pharmacists?

Most participants did not think GPA should be a factor in the hiring process for pharmacists.