Assessing undergraduate students' motivation to study pharmacy, attitudes and future career professional choices in universities of Uganda
Loading...
Date
2018-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, School of Health Sciences- Western Campus
Abstract
Background: One of the contributing factor to the shortage of health professionals especially in
Pharmacy, is the small number of people opting to enter the profession and it was seen that
numerous factors and motivations influence the choice of a university course by young high school
graduates.
Objective: To assess undergraduate pharmacy students' motivation to study pharmacy, attitudes
about the profession and future career professional choices in universities of Uganda.
Methodology: The study was a cross- sectional descriptive study design and the study population
included pharmacy students from all the three Universities in Uganda. A sample size of 278
participants was used. These were assessed using pre-validated questionnaires with several close
ended and open ended questions and data collected from them was entered into SPSS, analyzed,
and presented inform of tables, graphs and pie charts.
Results: A greater number of the undergraduate students were aged between 23 - 25 years,
104(38.8%) and were mostly Fourth Year students 107(38.5%), 46.4% (129) of the students were
from KIU, 26.6% (74) were fiĀ·om Makerere University and 27%(75) were from Mbarara
University. Male students were d:e majority 206(74.5%) and by religion Catholics were the
majority 67(27.4%). Personal related reasons ranked low on motivation to study P)larmacy as only
one reason out of the eleven factors li~ted (9.1 %) was a crucial motivating factor and that was,
"Influence by a Pharmacist I know as a role model" 119 (44.2%). This showed studying MUST
vs KIU, age 20-22 and 26-28 vs age above 28 was statistically significantly related to taking
pharmacy as a first choice.
Conclusion: In conclusion this study considers motivation as being either task or ego-oriented and
considers extrinsic motivation to be more desirable and to result in better leaming outcomes than
intrinsic motivation. The study also reveals good attitude towards pharmacy and shows that the
theory of rational choice states was ap!Jlicable among KIU students since many took pharmacy
hoping for certain outcomes such as e\)lployment and starting their own business. Also fits High
Flyers and Life Style' Work-Life Balance Theory dmt is students are c?mmitted to pharmacy
because their attitude towards qne's profession". Furthennore, the study reveals a significa:1t
relationship between (lviUST andKIU ~tudents), and age (20-22 years and 26-28 years) and those
above 28 years).
Description
A research report submitted to school of pharmacy in partial fulfillment for the award of Bachelor degree in pharmacy at Kampala International University
Keywords
Students' motivation, Pharmacy, Future career professional, Uganda