A MAJORITY of pharmacy students across Australia believe undertaking a rural placement while studying should be mandatory, the National Australian Pharmacy Students' Association (NAPSA) National Pharmacy Students Survey 2019 reveals.
The results found close to 60% of students felt exposure to rural practice should be a core part of their training, however issues around funding and accommodation were flagged by students as perceived barriers to taking up placements in rural and regional areas.
The survey found that of those who underwent a placement in a rural setting, 50% said they would consider pursuing roles in rural areas as a result, while 60% said their experience had met their expectations.
Despite the positive sentiment towards rural practice, a modest 29% said they could see themselves working in a rural setting in the future.
Concerns around pay rates remained the biggest single issue facing the profession, while the continued growth of discount-model pharmacy groups was also seen as an issue for students entering the profession.
Close to 40% said they did not believe they were suitably prepared for a career in hospital pharmacy, despite a significant shift in students reporting that they want to pursue opportunities in the space.
The survey found increasing numbers of students have expressed an interest in careers outside hospital and community pharmacy settings.
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