Investigation of student views on industrial pharmacy
Written by: Janice Kirby-Smith, David Brown, Jane Portlock • March 1 2008• Volume 8 - Issue 1•Abstract
Aims: To identify the key reasons why few pharmacy students opt for a career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Methods: A 17 item questionnaire was developed and distributed to final year undergraduates in UK schools of pharmacy. Respondents gave views on possible career choices using structured and open questions and a five point Likert scale.
Results: Questionnaires were returned from 219 final year pharmacy undergraduates. Seventy-one students expressed an interest in industrial pharmacy. Key attractions of the industry included a wide range of job opportunities and a research environment; key detractors included lack of patient contact and a perception that work would be dull, difficult and laboratory based.
Conclusion: Undergraduates do not have enough information concerning industrial pharmacy to be able to make informed judgements concerning opportunities in this sector.
