Attitude towards Career Choices among Graduating PharmD Students at College of Pharmacy, Qassim University

Background: The career opportunities for pharmacists have expanded as the health care has developed. Recently the career choices have included several fields such as hospital practice, community pharmacy, industrial field, academia, research and administrative pharmacy. Objective: This study evaluated the pattern and influencing factors of future carrier choices with an aim to effectively target career advices to the graduating students. Methods: An observational, cross sectional study was conducted among graduating PharmD students at the college of pharmacy, Qassim University, KSA from March to April 2018. A total of 238 PharmD students were included. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the analysis of data. Results: The study showed the graduating male (51.3 %) were slightly higher than female (48.7 %). The overall mean age of students was 24 years. The internet media and electronic newspapers were the most common sources of information regarding the available career choices. Hospital field as a Future career was the most preferred (55.46 %). It was found that personal interest (20.9 %), high salary (18.4 %) and opportunities for development (13.7 %) were the main factors that influence career choices. Generally, the students have positive attitude towards pharmacy profession and more than (50 %) of students would like to continue postgraduate study in pharmacy. Conclusion: Most of participants were satisfy with pharmacy profession and the hospital field was the most preferred choice and personal interest was largely considered as influencing factor.