Abstract
Objective: To determine factors influencing career aspirations of third year pharmacy students|Methods: A survey instrument was developed to collect data from third year pharmacy students on their pharmacy practice experience for pay. Variables collected were categorized as current pharmacy practice setting for pay, attitudes and opinions regarding the work setting, and demographics. Surveys were administered in five consecutive years beginning in 2006. The backward elimination algorithm of stepwise regression identified the best fit model influencing pharmacy student career aspirations.|Results: The response rate over five years was 70.0% (561 out of 802). At least one pharmacy practice experience for pay was reported by 509 of 561 respondents (90.7%). Sixty-six percent reported practicing for pay in a community pharmacy, with 56.2% indicating a chain/grocery store/mass merchandiser pharmacy and 9.8% indicating an independent pharmacy. Nearly 27% practiced in a hospital pharmacy for pay and 7.1% reported other pharmacy practice experiences for pay. Students with practice experience for pay were asked to complete eight items regarding their attitudes and opinions of these experiences. The regression model had an adjusted R2 value of 0.54. The most significant factors were: seeing oneself having a fulfilling career (beta = 0.459, p < 0.001), an optimal work schedule (beta = 0.358, p < 0.001), and current practice experience for pay being favorable (beta = 0.146, p < 0.001).|Implications/Conclusions: Expectation of a fulfilling career appears to be the most significant factor influencing aspirations of future work place setting for students, and faculty should emphasize this in their interactions with students.|