Locus of Control Dimensions among Senior Pharmacy Students Electing Post-Pharm. D. Residencies

Abstract

The locus of control dimensions among senior Pharm.D. students electing post-Pharm.D. residencies (N=15) are compared with first (N = 60) and second year (N = 55) Pharm.D. students, as well as with senior Pharm.D. students not electing residencies (N=14). Volunteer clinical faculty [hospital (N=27) and community (N = 23) pharmacy preceptors] and full-time clinical faculty (N = 22) are also compared. The Reid-Ware three-factor internal-external scale was completed by the study population. The dimensions measured were: self-control, social systems control, and fatalism. This study was undertaken to:

1. compare the locus of control dimensions among senior pharmacy students electing post-Pharm.D. residencies with senior pharmacy students not electing post-Pharm.D. residencies (and with other pharmacy students) and

2. compare the locus of control dimensions among senior pharmacy students electing and not electing post-Pharm. D. residencies (and with other pharmacy students) with their clinical, hospital, and community faculty to identify personality congruence (i.e., similarities, differences) which might facilitate the development of patient oriented-interactive behaviors necessary for clinical practice.

Self-control (SC) was the major factor that generated the significant difference in the seven groups. The clinical (full-time) faculty group is significantly different from the student groups with the exception of the P-3, residency students. Over 50 percent of the P-3 residency group responded more like the faculty groups than like other students, with more P-3 residency students responding like clinical faculty than any other student or faculty group. The implication is that a similar personality profile exists in terms of internal/external control for the P-3 residency and full-time clinical faculty groups. Professors may have influenced, stimulated, or motivated those students most like themselves to enter a residency program.

Based on the data, it would appear desirable to profile pharmacy students and give those who have a strong internal self-control factor encouragement to pursue post-graduate academic or residency programs and to retain as many of those individuals as possible in the areas of pharmacy that directly influence patient care and the pharmacist's role on the health care team.