Abstract
ObjectiveThe 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.MethodsA 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.ResultsA 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).ConclusionBehavioural 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.
Highlights
Due to economic crises, the stability of jobs is no longer offers by the employers
Students were concerned about the risk of being entrepreneur as 67.1 % agreed or strongly agreed that pharmacy ownership would put them at risk during economic crises
The results showed that pharmacy students considered pharmacy ownership an extreme risk as they believed that not many people become successful, as more than half (56.2 %) of the participants agreed or strongly agreed to this point
Summary
Many factors could be related to potential unemployment including advancement of technology and the hiring of low paid employees like pharmacy technicians are the biggest threat to pharmacist [1]. Researchers doubt that moves towards relaxing industry regulation may soon allow ownership of pharmacies by non-pharmacists like supermarkets’, chain stores and other retailers [2]. This urges the pharmacists to enable themselves to take up the role of pharmacy owner. It has been reported that pharmacy students are well familiarized with the basic, clinical and social sciences, as well as the contemporary approaches of patient care, they still need extensive training to gain pharmacy ownership skills in
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