ASSESSMENT OF AWARENESS OF CAREERS IN PHARMACY PROFESSION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL CAREER ADVISORS IN KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Background: Career advisors are traditionally required to guide students in choosing the right
subject combinations, to do this the career advisors must have an accurate information about
various professions.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the awareness of careers in pharmacy among secondary school
career advisors in Kaduna State, Nigeria and also to compare their awareness scores.
Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted (from February 2019 to July 2019)
among 83 conveniently sampled secondary school career advisors from Zaria and Giwa
educational zones of Kaduna state, Nigeria. The awareness of careers in pharmacy profession
was assed using a self-completed questionnaire. The data were analysed using SPSS version 22
and presented as descriptive and inferential statistics where appropriated.
Results: The response rate of 97.5% was obtained. Majority of the career advisors had fair
knowledge of careers in pharmacy 68.8% (55), 77.5% (62) were aware of the institutions where
pharmacists are trained, 65% (52) were aware of minimum duration of study for B. pharm degree
65% (52). Majority of the career advisors 95% (76) were not aware of the minimum duration for
Doctor of Pharmacy degree. There was no significant statistical relationship between the
demographic variables of the career advisors and their level of awareness about pharmacy
profession (p>.05).
Conclusion: The secondary school career advisors had fair level of awareness of careers in
pharmacy profession and this awareness had no significant statistical relationship to the
demographic characteristics of the career advisors.