A Comparison of Osteopathic, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Occupational Therapy Students' Personality Styles: Implications for Education and Practice

Abstract

ABSTRACTResearch has demonstrated that students with specific personality styles tend to choose particular professions. Even within a discipline, differences in personality traits are evident. With differences in personality styles reported in other professions, the question arises, are there differences in personality styles among the health professions? As such, this study is being undertaken to determine if differences in personality style exist between pharmacy and other health-profession students. Such information can help educators guide prospective students into compatible careers or counsel students who are having a difficult time completing the curriculum. In addition, this information can help enlighten health-profession students about the differences in personality and how these differences may manifest themselves in the workplace. The hypothesis tested was “there is a difference in personality traits between osteopathic, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and occupational therapy...