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Research ArticleOpen Access

Anxiety Level of Students towards Getting a Residency and Fellowship Program: A Survey of Pharmacy Students

Volume 3 - Issue 4

Ronald Smith1 and Bisrat Hailemeskel*2

  • Author Information Open or Close
    • 1Senior Pharmacy Student, College of Pharmacy, Howard University, USA
    • 2Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice & Co-Director of International Grants, Howard University, USA

    *Corresponding author: Bisrat Hailemeskel, Howard University, 2300 4th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20059, USA

Received: March 30, 2018;   Published: April 11, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.03.000947

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Abstract

Introduction:Studies assessing the anxiety and stress levels in students that consider residency and fellowship programs post-graduation are minimal in the literature. Evaluating student confidence on pursuing residency or fellowship may provide insight in to the level of students concerns. The goal of this study is to obtain students’ opinion of their concerns of obtaining a residency or fellowship training upon graduation.

Method: The survey consisted of 6 questions that were graded on a 5-level Likert scale (strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, and strongly agree) and it was administered to third-year professional pharmacy students of Howard University College of Pharmacy.

Results: Data collected showed53 students completed the survey with an 85% response rate. Of the students, over half (55%) expressed interest in pursuing a residency or fellowship program. Comparing their interest between a residency or a fellowship program, over half of the respondents have more interest in pursuing a residency program than a fellowship. Although seventy percent (69.7%) of students said that they were actively searching for a residency and/or fellowship programs, about two-third of them (75.6%) are very concerned with finding a residency or fellowship after graduation. Greater than eighty seven percent (87.5%) of students actively think and over three-quarter of participants (75.6%) actively discuss with classmates or colleagues about residency or fellowship during their pharmacy school careers. Close to about three-fourth (72.7%) of students expressed flexibility in moving to any state, if they need to, to start a residency or fellowship. However, when stratified across various demographic measures such as age, gender, pharmacy related work experience, and education, it was shown that these factors do not have an impact on students’ concerns.

Conclusion: Results of this study may inspire potential curriculum changes that may better prepare students for these career paths, or the development of anxiety and stress relief programs for pharmacy students.

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