INTENTIONS AND PERCEPTIONS OF IRAQI PHARMACY STUDENTS TOWARD POSTGRADUATE EDUCATION

Abstract

Background: An evolving need for highly qualified pharmacists is encountered recently in pharmacy practice; as a result, an increasing number of pharmacists considered a postgraduate study to improve their careers. Objectives: to identify the pharmacy students’ intentions and perceptions toward postgraduate study and the factors influencing their decision. Methods: A questionnaire was answered by final year pharmacy students’ in the College of Pharmacy/ University of Baghdad. Numbers and percent used to measure the frequency of responses and a 5-point Likert scale were used to assess factors influencing students’ preferences. Results: out of 182 students, about 84.1% intended to join the residency program in Iraq, a small percentage wanted to pursue postgraduate study directly post-graduation (4.95% in Iraq vs. 2.75% abroad). After the residency program, most students intended to pursue postgraduate studies in Iraq (62.1%) vs. (9.9%) abroad; a considerable percent (28%) decided not to pursue further study. Funding was mostly influencing students’ intentions to study. University grades were a determinant in choosing higher education over residency program. The 3 most preferable areas of specialization were clinical pharmacy, pharmacology and quality control of drugs, in order to get a better job opportunity. Conclusions: pharmacy students had the intentions to pursue postgraduate studies in Iraq but after completing their residency program. Getting married is the main obstacle against studying abroad. Unaffordable cost was the most influencing factor against studying directly after graduation. The most effective motive for pursuing postgraduate study was to get better job opportunities.