title: Exploring the intentions of pharmacy students towards pharmacy ownership by using theory of planned behaviour.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the association of the constructs of theory of planned behaviour (behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs, control beliefs) and demographic variables with the intentions of pharmacy students to become pharmacy owner.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted between October and November, 2014, using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire delivered to a sample of 350 pharmacy students at a private university of Pakistan. Behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs and control beliefs were assessed on four point Likert scale of agreement. The scores were summed and dichotomized based on an arbitrary 50% cut-off score to assess positive and negative beliefs. Binary logistic regression was used to analyse the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 313 participants (89.4%) responded to the questionnaire. Participants' behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs and control beliefs were negative towards pharmacy ownership with the mean scores of 13.90 ± 0.41 (score range: 6-24), 9.66 ± 0.49 (score range: 4-16) and 16.88 ± 0.40 (score range: 7-28) respectively. Professional year and family business were significantly associated with intentions of pharmacy students to own a pharmacy (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs and control beliefs were negative towards pharmacy ownership. Implementation of entrepreneurship course in pharmacy school may transform the beliefs of pharmacy students towards pharmacy ownership.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, UCSI University, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Umair
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, UCSI University, Cheras, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hamadard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fayyaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nida
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy Research, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. akshayapharmacy@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Akshaya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhagavathula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D003469:Culture; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D010067:Ownership; D013339:Students, Pharmacy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Entrepreneurship; Ownership; Pakistan; Pharmacy; Students