Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty Member, Department of Immunology, School of medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Faculty Member, Department of Pharmaceutics, Pharmacy Faculty, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

Abstract

Identification of factors affecting the selection Pharmacy field can provide an important step in development and success of students. The present study aimed to determine what factors affect attitude of Pharmacy students at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences and their academic satisfaction. This cross-sectional study was planned to undertake a research on all students in pharmacy school at first semester in 1392, a total 247 students). First data were collected using a validity-and-reliability-approved questionnaire and then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests such as independent t test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient. Based on the mean scores obtained, factors such as “the rate of income and job security” and “Individual talent and ability” were considered as the main reasons for applying in pharmacy field, 4.19 and 4.08 respectively; and “urging by friends and relatives” and “social situation” were the least important factors by means of 3.33 and 3.73, respectively. Students with an average of 4.06 answered with a positive attitude to the question "Would you select the field of pharmacy if you take the exam again?" related to their interest and satisfaction. The results of the study suggest that the “business and economic conditions” can be the most affecting factors on the choice of academic field from Pharmacy students’ viewpoints, by contrast, such tendency in Pharmacy students could have negative consequences for graduates in future.

Keywords

1-Abdi, Beheshteh , Aghababa, A 2009 “A Survey of Effective Factors on Choosing the Field of Study Among Eligible Candidates of University, Entrance Examination”; Higher Education Quarterly, No. 3, Pp. 151-183(Persian).   
2-Aguiar, CM, Veiga Pessoa, MA, Camara, AC, et al. 2009 “Factors involved in the choice of dentistry as an occupation by pernambuco dental students in Brazil”. J Dent Educ Vol 73, No.12, Pp.1401-1407.     
3-Alizadeh, S, Sigarchian, M 2013, “The Motivation of Choosing Midwifery Field of Study and Related Factors among the Midwifery Students of Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Iran”. Strides Dev Med Educ, Vol 10, No. 1, Pp.78-86. (Persian)   
  4-Bucci, KK, Knapp, KK, Ohri, LK, et al 1995 “Factors motivating pharmacy students to pursue residency and fellowship training”. Am J Health Syst Pharm. Vol 52, No. 23, Pp. 2696-2701.    
 5-Chou, SW, Liu, CH 2005 “Learning effectiveness in a Web-based virtual learning Environment: A Learner Control Perspective”. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, Vol. 21, Pp. 65–76.     
6-Dehghani, A, Baharlou, R, Ben Razi, Gh, et al 2014 “Effecting Factors on Academic Satisfaction; Viewpoint of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences Students”. Bimonthly of Education Strategies in Medical Sciences, Vol. 7, No.3, Pp.147-154.     
7-El Ansari, W, Oskrochi, R 2004 “What 'really' affects health professions students' satisfaction with their educational experience? Implications for practice and research”. Nurs Educ Today. Vol 24, No.8, Pp.644-655.  
   8-El Ansari, W, Oskrochi, R 2006 “What matters most? Predictors of student satisfaction in public health educational courses”. Pub Health. Vol. 120, No.5, Pp.462-473.    
 9-Fattahi, Z, Javadi, Y, Nakhaee, N 2004 “A Survey on Dentistry Students’ Satisfaction with their Discipline and Some of the Related Factors”. Strides Dev Med Educ. Vol. 1, No.1, Pp.32-40 (Persian).  
   10-Keshishian, F, Brocavich, JM, Boone, RT, et al. 2010 “Motivating Factors Influencing College Students’ Choice of Academic Major”.American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. Vol. 74, No.3, Pp. 1-7.   
  11-Memarpour, M, Bazrafkan, L, Mosavi E, et al 2013. “Factors Influencing Dental Students’ Choice of Discipline”. Iranian Journal of Medical Education, Vol. 13, No.4, Pp. 260-269.     
12-Mostafavi َ, Ramezanloo, P, asgari, N 2013” Pharmacy Students' Reasons for Choosing Pharmacy as a Career and Changes in Their Motivation during the Course”. J Med Edu Dev., Vol. 5, No. 9 , Pp. 33- 42. (Persian)     
13-Neamatollahi, H, Mehrabkhani, M, Ghafarpour, S, et al. 2014 “Evaluation of Mashhad Dental School Students’ Motives and Viewpoints on Their Career Choices in 2010”. J Mash Dent Sch, Vol. 38 No.1, Pp.71-84(Persian)    
 14-Payrovi, N, Derakhshan, F, Karimi, T, et al. 2012, “Factors influencing the selection of study field in students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences”. The Journal of Qazvin University of medical sciences, Vol. 16 No. 2, Pp.87-90. (Persian)    
 15-Rabani, R, Rabiei, K 2011. “Evaluation of Major Selection and its Impact on Educational Satisfaction among Isfahan University Students”. Qurterly Journal of Research and Planing in Higher Education, Vol. 2, Pp. 99-120. (Persian)    
 16-Rouhi, Gh 2007, “Educational motivation and its relationship with some factors among the students of Golestan University of medical sciences”. Strides in Development of Medical Education, Vol. 4, No.2, Pp.77-82. (Persian)  
   17-Safari, M, Yazdanpanah, B, Ghafarian, H, et al 2006 “Comparing the effect of lecture and discussion methods on students` learning and satisfaction”. Irani J Med Educ. Vol. 6, No. 1, Pp. 59-64. (Persian)    
 18-Tajkey, J, Sorori-Zanjani, R, Mazloomzade, S, et al 2009 “University Entrance Motivations of Pharmacy Students of Zanjan Pharmacy School”. J Med Edu Dev. Vol. 1, No.1, Pp. 29-35.    
 19-Vahid Dastjerdi, M, Mahdian, M, Vahid Dastjerdi, E, et al 2012 “Study motives and career choices of Iranian medical and dental students”. Acta Medica Iranica. Vol. 50, No.6, Pp. 41-49.