Exploring Student Pharmacists' Time Management and Career Planning Attitudes Through a Management Course: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to incorporate a pharmacy management course into pharmacy education and explore students' time management and career planning attitudes in relation to this course.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This research, conducted between October 2, 2023, and January 12, 2024, employed a mixed-methods design, integrating both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies within a single study framework. Quantitative data were collected using the Sociodemographic Form, Career Futures Inventory (CFI), and Time Management Questionnaire (TMQ). A semi-structured interview form was employed to gather qualitative data. This study included 60 fifth-year pharmacy students. The experimental group (n=30) comprised volunteers enrolled in the "Management in Pharmacy" elective course, while the control group (n=30) consisted of randomly selected volunteers not enrolled in the course.

RESULTS

In the intervention group, pre-test TMQ scores ranged from 56 to 117, yielding a mean score of 80.50±16.12. Post-test scores ranged from 55 to 112, with an average of 86.83±14.09. There was a significant difference in the change in the TMQ scores and Time Attitude scores between the control and intervention groups (=0.003 and =0.001, respectively). For the intervention group, pre-test CFI scores ranged from 63 to 116, yielding a mean score of 85.93±15.34. Post-test scores ranged from 68 to 111, with an average of 89.40±12.56. No significant difference was observed in the change in the CFI scores between the control and intervention groups (=0.311). Student feedback provided insight into the necessity or usefulness, impact, and future suggestions concerning the delivery of this course.

CONCLUSION

The implementation of educational resources and methodologies aimed at fostering time management abilities and encouraging career planning attitudes from the initial phases of pharmacy education may result in greater outcomes.