Assessment of professionalism among pharmacy students: A pilot study exploring professionalism tenets and associated factors

Authors

  • Iqbal Fahs Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7012-4859
  • Sahar Nasser Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Sanderella Bou Malhab Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon
  • Samar Younes Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Jihan Safwan Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Etwal Bouraad Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Susana Abdel Fattah Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Nour Chamsine Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
  • Mohamad Rahal Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon
  • Dalal Hammoudi Halat Academic Quality Department, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar & Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2023.231.283295

Keywords:

Pharmacy, Pharmacy education, Pharmacy professionalism instrument, Pharmacy student, Professionalism, Professionalism tenet

Abstract

Background: Enhancing student pharmacist professionalism has gained much attention in pharmacy education. This study aimed to assess the professionalism of professional year students in a private pharmacy school in Lebanon and identify significant factors.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the validated pharmacy professionalism instrument (PPI) applied to students of the three professional years of pharmacy study. A stratification by professional year was performed to compare groups and subgroups and identify significant associations.

Results: The students reported a high overall professionalism score (78.65±10.36) and good scores for the six tenets of professionalism, including excellence (21.79±3.18), respect (17.47±2.66), altruism (12.74±2.00), duty (9.32±1.38), accountability (8.62±1.55), and integrity (8.89±1.51). There was no significant improvement in overall professionalism and tenets scores across the professional years, nor was there a significant change in demographics. However, working on a part-time basis was significantly associated with lower overall professionalism (beta=-2.674), respect (beta=-0.553), altruism (beta=0.523), duty (beta=-0.295), and accountability scores (beta=-0.316).

Conclusion: The study revealed high overall baseline professionalism and tenets scores among all students with no significant improvements from one year to the other. Further studies that follow cohorts of students up across the curriculum are necessary for individual comparisons.

Author Biographies

Iqbal Fahs, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy

Sahar Nasser, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy

Sanderella Bou Malhab, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & INSPECT-LB (Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban), Beirut, Lebanon

Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy

Samar Younes, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy

Jihan Safwan, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy

Etwal Bouraad, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon & American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Department of Epidemiology and Population Health

Susana Abdel Fattah, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy

Nour Chamsine, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy

Mohamad Rahal, Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy

Dalal Hammoudi Halat, Academic Quality Department, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar & Lebanese International University, Beqaa, Lebanon

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy 

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Published

09-06-2023

How to Cite

Fahs, I., Nasser, S., Bou Malhab, S., Younes, S., Safwan, J., Bouraad, E., Abdel Fattah, S., Chamsine, N., Rahal, M., & Hammoudi Halat, D. (2023). Assessment of professionalism among pharmacy students: A pilot study exploring professionalism tenets and associated factors. Pharmacy Education, 23(1), p. 283–295. https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2023.231.283295

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 1 (2023)

Section

Research Article

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