Graduating pharmacy students' perspectives on e-professionalism and social media.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the use patterns of social media among graduating pharmacy students, characterize students' views and opinions of professionalism on popular social media sites, and compare responses about social media behavior among students seeking different types of employment.


METHODS
All graduating pharmacy students (n=516) at Purdue University, The University of Findlay, Butler University, and Midwestern University were invited to complete a survey instrument during the fall semester of 2011.


RESULTS
Of 212 (41%) students who responded to the survey, 93% (194/209) had a social media profile. Seventy-four percent (120/162) of participants felt they should edit their social media profiles prior to applying for a job.


CONCLUSIONS
Many graduating pharmacy students use social media; however, there appears to be a growing awareness of the importance of presenting a more professional image online as they near graduation and begin seeking employment as pharmacists.
Purdue University College of Pharmacy, Indianapolis, Indiana ; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana ; US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Genevieve Lynn
GL
Ness
Amy Heck
AH
Sheehan
Margie E
ME
Snyder
Joseph
J
Jordan
Jean E
JE
Cunningham
Jacob P
JP
Gettig
D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007586:Job Application; D010595:Pharmacists; D061108:Social Media; D060756:Social Networking; D013339:Students, Pharmacy
e-professionalism; pharmacy students; social media; social networking