A Qualitative Analysis of
the Perception of Academic Pharmacists Regarding their
Role in Healthcare System of Two Pakistani Cities
Saira Azhar1*,
Mohammad Azmi Hassali2, Ayesha Iqbal1,
Nyla Jabeen3, Abida Latif4, Naveed
Ullah5, Shujaat Ali Khan1, Yasmeen
Akhtar1 and Ghulam Murtaza1
1Department of Pharmacy,
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad,
Pakistan, 2Discipline of Social and
Administrative Pharmacy, University Sains Malaysia,
Penang, Malaysia, 3Department of
Biotechnology International Islamic University,
Islamabad, 4University College of Pharmacy,
University of Punjab, Lahore, 5Department of
Pharmacy University of Swabi, Swabi, Pakistan
*For correspondence:
Email:
drsairaazhar@gmail.com; Tel:
00923142082826; Fax: 0092992383441
Received: 19 September 2014 Revised accepted: 22 December
2014
Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research,
February 2015;
14(2): 311-315
Purpose: To investigate the role and
perception of academic pharmacists regarding their role
in the healthcare system of Pakistan.
Methods: Qualitative methodology was used to
explore the perception of academic pharmacists, and
semi-structured interview was used to collect the data.
The study was conducted in the cities of Islamabad and
Lahore, Pakistan from April to June 2011.
Results: On the basis of the interview guide,
thematic content analysis yielded five major themes: 1)
the need for a more comprehensive pharmacy curriculum;
2) perception of pharmaceutical care in Pakistan; 3)
collaboration with other healthcare professionals; and
4) strategies to improve the status of pharmacist.
Conclusion: There is a necessity for curriculum
alignment, which is considered important to enhance
pharmacy practice activities, as this will ultimately
yield several benefits for pharmacists, including job
satisfaction.
Keywords: Academic pharmacist, Perception,
Pharmacists’ role, Healthcare system
