Assessment of pharmacy student professionalism across a curriculum.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate changes in professionalism across the curriculum among pharmacy students in different classes.


METHODS
A professionalism instrument was administered early in the first (P1) year, upon completing the introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPE) near the end of the second (P2) year, and upon completing the advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPE) at the end of the fourth (P4) year.


RESULTS
The professionalism scale and its subscales were compared for the 3 time points for the class of 2009. Significant differences were noted in professionalism scores between the P1 and P4 years and for altruism, accountability, and honor/integrity subscale scores for the class of 2009. No significant differences were noted when the scores for 4 P1 classes, and 3 P2 classes were compared.


CONCLUSIONS
An increase in professionalism scores and altruism, accountability, and honor/integrity scores was demonstrated, providing evidence that the curricular and co-curricular activities in the school of pharmacy helped develop professionalism in the class of 2009 students.
Poirier
Therese I
TI
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Pharmacy, IL 62026-2000, USA.
Gupchup
Gireesh V
GV
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D004512:Education, Pharmacy; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D012580:Schools, Pharmacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult