Factors affecting hospital pharmacy internship programmes being offered in Metro Manila
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46542/pe.2026.261.137151Keywords:
Experiential learning, Hospital pharmacy, Internship, Pharmacy educationAbstract
Background: Hospital pharmacy internship programmes (HPIPs) in the Philippines are both a legal requirement to qualify for the licensure examination and a source of experiential learning for students. However, local data on the prevalence and factors influencing HPIP offering are lacking. Objectives: To determine the factors affecting HPIP offering in Metro Manila.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving hospital pharmacy administrators was conducted. Descriptive statistics described factors affecting HPIP offering, while multiple logistic regression analysed their relationship to HPIP offering.
Results: 60.42% of the hospitals offered HPIPs. Organisational factors (clinical pharmacy, research, and training services) were more prevalent among HPIP offering hospitals. Both groups showed high scores on perceived benefits, while management factors were higher in the HPIP offering group. Factors with significant positive relationships to HPIP offering were hospital ownership (p = 0.009), training services (p = 0.005), and academic partnerships (p = 0.008).
Conclusion: HPIP offering was reported at 60.42%. Strategies to improve availability with respect to the factors with a significant relationship to HPIP offering were recommended and focused on pharmacy policy, education, and practice. Further studies are recommended to strengthen evidence and explore other dimensions of HPIPs in the local setting.
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