“Wait, Can I ask what do pharmacists do?” Māori and Pacific youth perspectives of pharmacy as a career pathway
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2023.231.339353Keywords:
Adolescent, Career, Indigenous, Pacific people, Pharmacy, RecruitmentAbstract
Background: Indigenous Māori and Pacific Peoples are under-represented in the pharmacy workforce, despite the identified need for increased representation in healthcare to achieve equitable outcomes in Aotearoa. This study explored the awareness, perspectives, and views of Māori and Pacific youth about pharmacy as a study pathway and career.
Methods: The study employed a mixed-method exploratory approach, combining a self-administered questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to investigate the views of Māori and Pacific youth aged 13-15 on pharmacy as a career path. Descriptive statistics were generated, and a thematic analysis was conducted.
Results: The sample comprised 13 Māori and 12 Pacific participants. The questionnaires showed a lack of understanding of the pharmacy professions, while the interviews revealed that participants’ career options were heavily influenced by their families, their exposure, their level of exposure and knowledge of the profession, and the financial and social implications of pursuing a particular career.
Conclusion: Pharmacy is an invisible career to Māori and Pacific youth. Findings suggest that tailoring pharmacy promotion to Indigenous and Pacific communities would improve awareness and representation.
References
Akosah-Twumasi, P., Emeto, T. I., Lindsay, D., Tsey, K., & Malau-Aduli, B. S. (2018). A Systematic Review of Factors That Influence Youths Career Choices—the Role of Culture. Frontiers in education, 3, 58. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2018.00058
Alshehri, A. M., Elsawaf, L. A., Alzaid, S. F., Almogbel, Y. S., Alminggash, M. A., Almalki, Z. S., & Algarni, M. A. (2021). Factors Affecting Pharmacy Students’ Decision to Study in Pharmacy Colleges in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Analysis. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 9(12), 1651. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9121651
Aspden, T., Cooper, R., Liu, Y., Marowa, M., Rubio, C., Waterhouse, E.-J., & Sheridan, J. (2015). What Secondary School Career Advisors in New Zealand Know about Pharmacy and How that Knowledge Affects Student Career Choices. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 79(1), 07. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe79107
Athanasou, J. A., & Torrance, J. (2002). Career Development in the Pacific Islands: Key Issues Influencing Educational and Vocational Achievement. International journal for educational and vocational guidance, 2(1), 7–20. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014257500545
Bajwa, R., Kendrick, J. G., & Carr, R. (2014). The Invisible White Coat: Awareness of Pharmacists in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 67(4). https://doi.org/10.4212/cjhp.v67i4.1374
Bridger, L. (2013). Seeing and telling households: A case for photo elicitation and graphic elicitation in qualitative research. In A. Athelstan & R. Deller (Eds.), Visual Methodologies. Gradutate Journal of Social Science, 10(2), 106–131. http://gjss.org/sites/default/files/issues/Journal-10-02_Full-Issue.pdf
Bryers, C., Curtis, E., Tkatch, M., Anderson, A., Stokes, K., Kistanna, S., & Reid, P. (2021). Indigenous secondary school recruitment into tertiary health professional study: a qualitative study of student and whānau worldviews on the strengths, challenges and opportunities of the Whakapiki Ake Project. Higher education research & development, 40(1), 19–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2020.1857344
Chambers, D. W. (1983). Stereotypic images of the scientist: The draw-a-scientist test. Science Education, 67(2), 255–265. https://doi.org/10.1002/sce.3730670213
Copeland, A. J., & Agosto, D. E. (2012). Diagrams and Relational Maps: The Use of Graphic Elicitation Techniques with Interviewing for Data Collection, Analysis, and Display. International journal of qualitative methods, 11(5), 513–533. https://doi.org/10.1177/160940691201100501
Council of New Zealand, M. (2021). The New Zealand Medical Workforce in 2021
Curtis, E., Wikaire, E., Stokes, K., & Reid, P. (2012). Addressing indigenous health workforce inequities: A literature review exploring “best” practice for recruitment into tertiary health programmes. International journal for equity in health, 11(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-11-13
Davey, A., Evans, A., & Stupans, I. (2006). Pharmacy: Factors that influence the choice of career and study options. Pharmacy education, 6 (1), 21–26. https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/121
Davy, C., Harfield, S., McArthur, A., Munn, Z., & Brown, A. (2016). Access to primary health care services for Indigenous peoples: A framework synthesis. International Journal for equity in health, 15(1), 163. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-016-0450-5
Etikan, I., Musa, S. A., & Alkassim, R. S. (2015). Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling. American Journal of Theoretical and Applied Statistics, 5(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajtas.20160501.11
Fouad, N. A., Kim, S., Ghosh, A., Chang, W., & Figueiredo, C. (2016). Family Influence on Career Decision Making. Journal of career assessment, 24(1), 197–212. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072714565782
Foxall, D. (2013). Barriers in education of indigenous nursing students: a literature review. Nursing praxis in New Zealand inc, 29(3), 31–37
Gidman, W., Ward, P., & McGregor, L. (2012). Understanding public trust in services provided by community pharmacists relative to those provided by general practitioners: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 2(3), e000939. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2012-000939
Haar, J. M., & Brougham, D. M. (2013). An Indigenous Model of Career Satisfaction: Exploring the Role of Workplace Cultural Wellbeing. Social indicators research, 110(3), 873–890. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9962-y
Hamley, L., Groot, S., le Grice, J., Gillon, A., Greaves, L., Manchi, M., & Clark, T. (2021). “You’re the One That Was on Uncle’s Wall!”: Identity, Whanaungatanga and Connection for Takatāpui (LGBTQ+ Māori). Genealogy, 5(2), 54. https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy5020054
Health and Disability System Review. (2020). Health and disability system review - Final report - Pūrongo whakamutunga. www.systemreview.health.govt.nz/final-report
Hess, K., Bach, A., Won, K., & Seed, S. M. (2022). Community Pharmacists Roles During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of pharmacy practice, 35(3), 469–476. https://doi.org/10.1177/0897190020980626
Ikkatai, Y., Inoue, A., Minamizaki, A., Kano, K., McKay, E., & Yokoyama, H. M. (2021). Effect of providing gender equality information on students’ motivations to choose STEM. PLoS one, 16(6), e0252710. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0252710
King, A. (2002). The Pacific Health and Disability Action Plan. In Ministry of Health (Issue February). https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/pacific_health.pdf
le Grice, J., Braun, V., & Wetherell, M. (2017). “What I reckon is, is that like the love you give to your kids they’ll give to someone else and so on and so on”: Whanaungatanga and mātauranga Māori in practice. New Zealand journal of psychology, 46, 88–97. https://www.psychology.org.nz/journal-archive/Whanaungatanga-and-mātauranga-Māori-in-practice-private.pdf
Lilley, S. (2013). Māori career information seeking. MAI Journal, 2(1), 33–45. https://www.journal.mai.ac.nz/content/māori-career-information-seeking
Māori Ora Health Education Research. (n.d.). Breaking Down the Barriers. Māori Ora Health Education Research. https://mauriora.co.nz/2015/03/Māori-experiences-of-primary-health-care-breaking-down-the-barriers/ Accessed at 20 January 2020
Medical Council of New Zealand. (2022). The New Zealand Medical Workforce in 2022. https://www.mcnz.org.nz/assets/Publications/Workforce-Survey/64f90670c8/Workforce-Survey-Report-2022.pdf
Ministry for Pacific Peoples. (2020). Pacific Aotearoa Status Report. A snapshot. 1–45. https://www.mpp.govt.nz/assets/Reports/Pacific-Peoples-in-Aotearoa-Report.pdf
Ministry of Education. (2021). Practical information about education for parents and careers: NCEA. New Zealand Government. https://parents.education.govt.nz/secondary-school/learning-at-school/ncea/
Ministry of Health. (n.d.). Pacific Health and Disability Workforce Development Plan. In 2004. Ministry of Health. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/pacifichealthanddisabilityworkforcedevelopmentplan.pdf
Ministry of Health. (2008). Improving quality of care for pacific peoples : a paper for the Pacific Health and Disability Action Plan review. Ministry of Health. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/improving-quality-of-care-for-pacific-peoples-may08.pdf
Ministry of Health. (2014). The Guide to He Korowai Oranga: Māori Health Strategy. June, 1–13. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/guide-to-he-korowai-oranga-Māori-health-strategy-jun14-v2.pdf
Ministry of Health. (2020). Whakamaua Māori Health Action Plan, 2020-2025. Ministry of Health. https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/whakamaua-Māori-health-action-plan-2020-2025
Ministry of Health New Zealand. (2018). Achieving Equity in Health Outcomes. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/achieving-equity-in-health-outcomes-important-paper-highlights-nov18_1.pdf
New Zealand Ministry of Health. (2016). Pharmacy Action Plan: 2016 to 2020. http://www.midcentraldhb.govt.nz/Publications/AllPublications/Documents/MDHB Annual Plan 2017-18.pdf
Nursing Council of New Zealand. (2019). The New Zealand Workforce: A profile of Nurse Pactitioners, Registered Nurses and Enrilled Nurses 2018-2019. https://online.flippingbook.com/view/407289207/
Otte, S. V. (2022). Improved Patient Experience and Outcomes: Is Patient–Provider Concordance the Key? Journal of patient experience, 9, 237437352211030. https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735221103033
Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand. (n.d.). Pharmacists. https://www.psnz.org.nz/careers/pharmacists
Pharmacy Council of New Zealand. (2022). Pharmacy Workforce Demographic. https://pharmacycouncil.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Workforce-Demographic-Report-2022-Final.pdf
Ryan, D., Grey, C., & Mischewski, B. (2019). Tofa Saili : a review of evidence about health equity for Pacific peoples in New Zealand. Pacific Perspectives Limited. https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/sites/default/files/2019-09/Tofa%20Saili-%20A%20review%20of%20evidence%20about%20health%20equity%20for%20Pacific%20Peoples%20in%20New%20Zealand.pdf
Sajjad, B., Ishaq, R., Iqbal, Q., & Saleem, F. (2021). A Progressive Assessment of Pharmacy Undergraduates’ Motivation and Satisfaction towards Pharmacy as a Professional Choice. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine, 7(1), 14–18. https://doi.org/10.5530/jppcm.2021.1.3
Saramunee, K., Krska, J., Mackridge, A., Richards, J., Suttajit, S., & Phillips-Howard, P. (2014). How to enhance public health service utilization in community pharmacy?: General public and health providers’ perspectives. Research in social and administrative pharmacy, 10(2), 272–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2012.05.006
Smith, E., & Green, A. (2005). How Workplace Experiences While at School Affect Career Pathways. A National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation Program Report. 66. http://search.proquest.com/docview/62000927?accountid=13042
Statistics New Zealand. (2018). New Zealand Census 2018. https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-place-summaries/new-zealand
Statistics New Zealand, & Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. (2010). Education and Pacific peoples in New Zealand. https://www.stats.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Reports/Education-and-Pacific-Peoples-in-New-Zealand-2010/Education-and-Pacific-Peoples-in-New-Zealand-June-2010.pdf
Te Tiriti o Waitangi [Māori version], (1840)
The University of Auckland. (n.d.-a). About MAPAS. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/fmhs/study-with-us/Māori-and-pacific-at-the-faculty/Māori-and-pacific-admission-schemes.html
The University of Auckland. (2017). More than counting pills - how pharmacy has changed in New Zealand. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYjT6_5MFro
Theodore, R., Gollop, M., Tustin, K., Taylor, N., Kiro, C., Taumoepeau, M., Kokaua, J., Hunter, J., & Poulton, R. (2017). Māori University success: what helps and hinders qualification completion. AlterNative: An international journal of indigenous peoples, 13(2), 122–130. https://doi.org/10.1177/1177180117700799
Thomas, D. R. (2006). A General Inductive Approach for Analyzing Qualitative Evaluation Data. American Journal of Evaluation, 27(2), 237–246. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214005283748
University of Otago. (n.d.-a). The Māori Health Workforce Development Unit: Increasing the Māori health workforce through academic excellence in health sciences. https://www.otago.ac.nz/mhwdu/index.html
University of Otago. (n.d.-b). Va’a o Tautai – Centre for Pacific Health. https://www.otago.ac.nz/healthsciences/pacific/vaa-o-tautai.html
Vrontos, E. B., Kuhn, C. H., & Brittain, K. L. (2011). Impact of interprofessional activities on health professions students’ knowledge of community pharmacists’ role and services. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 75(8), 152. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe758152
