Perceived motivating factors and barriers for the completion of postgraduate training in American pharmacy students

Introduction: Post-graduate training (PGT) for pharmacists (e.g., residencies, fellowships, and graduate degrees) is a critical strategy to meet the growing demands and the evolving needs of patients and health-systems. Objectives: To examine the perceived motivating factors and barriers (MFB) to the pursuit of PGT among pharmacy students. Study Design: IRB-approved, multicenter survey of third-year pharmacy students at 12 schools of pharmacy throughout the U.S. Methods: The survey was completed on paper at 10 schools and electronically [Qualtrics (Provo, UT)] at two schools. Questions included student demographics, plans for pursuing PGT, and perceived MFBs to pursuing PGT [5-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree)]. Frequency and descriptive statistics were used to characterize responses. Kruskal-Wallis equality-of-proportions rank tests were performed to determine if differences in perceived MFBs existed between students who indicated Òyes,Ó Òno,Ó or ÒundecidedÓ to complete PGT. Perceived MFBs were grouped into five domains: self-actualization, future employment, awareness of PGT, internal MFBs, and external MFBs. Results: In total, 1218 (69.5%) students completed the survey. Overall 37.1% of students indicated they do plan to pursue PGT (vs. 32.9% that do not and 30.0% that are undecided). Approximately half of the students who first learned about PGT before beginning their first year in a school of pharmacy plan to pursue PGT (p<0.001). More students that plan to complete PGT had prior hospital work experience (50.2% vs. 16.8% vs. 29.3%, p=0.001). Among all three groups, the most common reason cited to complete PGT was, ÒI desire to gain more knowledge and experience.Ó Students who were undecided about pursuing PGT possessed greater self-actualization and future employment scores than those who were uninterested in pursuing PGT. Conclusions: Introducing potential and current pharmacy students to the idea of completing PGT and work in the hospital setting may increase studentsÕ desire to pursue PGT.