Evaluating Self-Efficacy in Pharm.D. and B.S. Pharmacy Programs: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

Jia-An Hung, Department of Dermatology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital
Kuan-Lin Chen, Departments of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital
Yen-Ming Huang, Departments of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital AND School of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, National Taiwan University
Li-Jiuan Shen, Departments of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital AND School of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, National Taiwan University
Fei-Yuan Hsiao, Departments of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital AND School of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, National Taiwan University
Chia-Yi Wu, School of Nursing, National Taiwan University
Fe-Lin Lin Wu, School of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, National Taiwan University
Chi-Chuan Yeh, Departments of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital
Shu-Wen Lin, Departments of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital AND School of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, National Taiwan UniversityFollow

Abstract

Background: Pharmacy education in Taiwan has shifted from a four-year Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree to a six-year Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree emphasizing patient-centered competencies. This study evaluated the self-efficacy of pharmacy students at different stages of the programs. Methods: A repeated cross-sectional survey was conducted from 2017 to 2019 at a university in Taiwan. Third- to sixth-year Pharm.D. and fourth-year B.S. students completed a validated 53-item self-efficacy scale comprising five domains. Data were analyzed using ANOVA, repeated-measures ANOVA, and Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis to evaluate differences in students' self-efficacy scores across academic years and between different programs. Results: Among the 355 respondents (93% response rate), self-efficacy showed a consistent increasing trend from third-year Pharm.D. to sixth-year Pharm.D. in all domains. The 2019 Pharm.D. cohort showed significant gains from the fourth to sixth year in professionalism (3.57, 3.92, and 4.00), pharmaceutical care (3.51, 3.92, and 4.06), systems-based practice (3.12, 3.75, and 3.81), and practice-based learning (3.84, 4.05, and 4.21). Sixth-year Pharm.D. candidates reported the highest self-efficacy in practice-based learning and improvement, and the lowest in systems-based practice. Compared with fourth-year B.S. graduates, sixth-year Pharm.D. students scored higher in pharmaceutical care. Conclusion: Self-efficacy in professional competencies showed a steady upward trend across the Pharm.D. program. This pattern was observed alongside progressive curricular exposure and practice experiences. However, relatively low confidence in systems-based practice and unchanged self-efficacy in communication skills suggest areas for curriculum enhancement.

First Page

184

Last Page

191

Recommended Citation

Hung, Jia-An; Chen, Kuan-Lin; Huang, Yen-Ming; Shen, Li-Jiuan; Hsiao, Fei-Yuan; Wu, Chia-Yi; Wu, Fe-Lin Lin; Yeh, Chi-Chuan; and Lin, Shu-Wen (2025) "Evaluating Self-Efficacy in Pharm.D. and B.S. Pharmacy Programs: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Study," Journal of Medical Education: Vol. 29: Iss. 4, Article 3.
Available at: https://jme.researchcommons.org/journal/vol29/iss4/3