Personal and higher-level values of pharmacy students declaring work with patients as a preferred career path – preliminary results

Abstract

Abstract Introduction and Aim. The study aims to review the premise according to which a specific set of personal values is characteristic of pharmacy students indicating work in direct contact with the patient and building a therapeutic relationship as a preferred area of professional activity. The theoretical basis for the study draws on the Schwartz model of personal values. Material and Method. The research was conducted among 211 students at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University in Lublin, aged 21-30 years (M=23.17; SD=1.26). The reference group (n=83) was composed of respondents declaring preference for a professional activity implying direct contact with patients (mainly retail pharmacy). The control group included students declaring preference for a professional path not entailing direct contact with patients. The study employed the Polish version of the Schwartz Value Survey, as well as the authors’ own questionnaire pertaining to career path preference. Results. Students declaring preference for direct contacts with patients as their chosen career path, compared to respondents declaring preference for the other alternatives were more likely, as compared to the control, to express preference for the personal values of “security” and scored higher in terms of the higher-level value “conservation”. In addition, a higher preference (oscillating around statistical significance) for the personal value “benevolence” of the control group was demonstrated. Conclusions. The preference for the values revealed by pharmacy students declaring a choice of retail pharmacy gives rise to concern about the possibility of implementing a new model of pharmaceutical care in Poland.