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

Abstract

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 (p=0.003 and p=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 (p=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.