Student Pharmacist Perception of Pursing Graduate Education in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Upon Completion of the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree

Abstracts / Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy 12 (2016) e11–e17 causal relationships of perceived severity, self-efficacy, cues to action, social perceptions, and behavioral control along with the intention to use e-cigarettes were identified and examined using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Results: The final sample was consisted of 9,366 adolescents (52% of the total sample) after excluding participants who reported using e-cigarettes (20%). 8% (761 adolescents) of the final sample showed intention to use e-cigarettes in the future. The final sample comprised of 60% whites and 49% males. The mean age was 14.4 (SD¼2.36) years. Low self-efficacy (B¼0.27, p!0.001), low perceived harm (B¼0.25, p!0.001) and high social norms (B¼0.24, p!0.001) were the significant predictors for a greater intention to use e-cigarettes. High level of cues to intention (B¼0.05, p!0.001) and low behavioral control (B¼0.03, p!0.001) were also associated with high intention to use e-cigarettes among the sample. Hypothesized SEM model had acceptable fit indices. Conclusion: The campaign focused on reducing use of e-cigarette smoking among adolescents should target on increasing awareness of safety and harm of e-cigarettes. Regulatory controls on commercial and media of e-cigarettes, and sales to minors could potentially help modify social perceptions in adolescents. Student Pharmacist Perception of Pursing Graduate Education in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Upon Completion of the Doctor of Pharmacy Degree J.A. Dikun, PharmD, A.S. Crumby, PharmD, Department of Pharmacy Administration, The University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, University, MS, USA Background: Student pharmacists are increasingly seeking postgraduate opportunities to continue their education upon completion of the doctor of pharmacy program including residency training, fellowship training, certificate programs and added qualifications, and master’s and doctoral degree programs in pharmacy and pharmacy-related disciplines. Although work has been done to identify interest in the pursuit of graduate school as well as effective recruitment methods, this work is somewhat dated and may not meet the needs of the current student pharmacist. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify student pharmacist knowledge and perceptions surrounding the pursuit of graduate education in the pharmaceutical sciences upon completion of the doctor of pharmacy degree. The study also aimed to identify preferred recruitment efforts among these students to support the development of effective methods for obtaining more PharmD-trained students in graduate programs. Methods: Student pharmacists completed semi-structured, face-to-face interviews available postgraduate training opportunities upon completion of their PharmD degree. Qualitative Content Analysis was performed on

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interview transcripts to identify themes for discussion surrounding knowledge and perception of graduate program components and recruitment efforts. Results: A total of 16 students participated in the interviews. On average, student pharmacists displayed a basic and negatively oriented knowledge base of graduate education among peers interested in pursuing graduate education at the time of interview. Recruitment methods of greatest influence and utility to student pharmacist applicants were active, personalized, and provided clear understanding of the program intangibles. Conclusions: Career development opportunities in pharmacy education and recruitment methods of graduate programs in the pharmaceutical sciences may not be adequate to assist today’s student pharmacist in making an informed decision about pursing graduate education upon graduation. Proposal for a Cross-Sectional Survey to Explore Preferences for and Perceptions of Medication Adherence Incentives Among Patients Taking Medication for a Chronic Disease N. Hohmann, PharmD, T. Hastings, BSPS, MS, R. Jeminiwa, BPharm, K.B. Garza, PharmD, MBA, PhD, J. Qian, PhD, R. Hansen, PhD, Department of Health Outcomes Research and Policy at Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA Background: Approximately 50% of prescriptions dispensed in the United States are not taken as prescribed, resulting in 125,000 deaths, 10% of hospitalizations, and $100-300 billion dollars in healthcare costs each year. Many types of incentives for health behavior change have been studied, such as removing insurance drug caps, cash deposits, and social accountability. However, information about patient perceptions of and preferences for incentives for medication adherence is lacking. Objectives: The primary study objective is to explore the perceptions and preferences for medication adherence incentives in adults with chronic conditions. Secondary objectives include: to explore perceived adherence barriers and their relationship to incentive preferences; and to examine associations between perceptions/preferences and patient characteristics (adherence level, demographics). Methods: Proposed methods are presented, with data collection anticipated to begin June 2016. A crosssectional survey will be conducted using a national online Qualtrics panel until 1,000 completed responses are received, with quotas derived from US Census data. Inclusion criteria are: US adults at least 18 years of age taking one or more prescription medications for chronic hypertension, hyperlipidemia, heart disease, diabetes, and/ or asthma/COPD and ability to read/write in the English language. Preferences will be assessed through Conjoint Analysis and qualitative assessment of open-ended questions; perceptions with Likert-type items; and adherence