Pharmacy Students' Perceptions of the Pharmacist Role: An Arts-Informed Approach to Professional Identity Formation

Abstract

Elements of professional identity are closely intertwined with professional roles, and individuals perceive themselves in relation to their roles. How pharmacists perceive their professional identity influences how they enact their roles in practice. For pharmacy students, understanding the pharmacist role and envisioning themselves in that role supports the formation of their professional identity. This study explores students' perceptions of the pharmacist role. First-year pharmacy students enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at the University of Alberta were invited to participate in this study. Using an adapted version of the draw-and-write technique, participants were asked to express their understanding of the pharmacist role visually. An analysis of the results was guided by established discourses related to pharmacist identity derived from pharmacy education literature. In total, 100 pharmacy students participated in this study. The findings indicate that pharmacy students have a comprehensive understanding of the pharmacist role, especially the dispenser and health care provider aspects of a pharmacist's professional identity. Additionally, students acknowledged the involvement of pharmacists in health care teams, in public health, and primary health care services. A discourse related to professional identity, the multi-faceted professional, emerged to describe the coexistence of multiple roles in modern pharmacy practice. An arts-based activity successfully facilitated the exploration of pharmacy students' perceptions of the professional role of pharmacists. This approach has potential in supporting instruction regarding professional identity formation within the curriculum.

Keywords: arts-informed research; discourse analysis; draw-and-write technique; pharmacist role; pharmacy education; professional identity; professional identity formation; qualitative research.

Figure 1

Sample pSquare.

Figure 2

pSquares depicting the mortar and pestle symbol associated with the apothecary aspect of identity (2025-Y1-006, 2025-Y1-047, 2025-Y1-061 with text “How can I help? I’m sick. Thanks!”).

Figure 3

pSquares depicting the dispensing aspect of the pharmacist role associated with the dispenser identity (2025-Y1-018, 2025-Y1-059, 2025-Y1-089).

Figure 4

pSquares depicting the information role (2025-Y1-030 with text “Insurance. Meds. Patient. Pharmacist. Patient interaction.”, 2025-Y1-087).

Figure 5

pSquares depicting the merchandiser aspect of identity (2025-Y1-050 with text “She has a coat on”, 2025-Y1-053 with text “REXALL. Here are your pills. Any questions?”, 2025-Y1-100).

Figure 6

pSquares depicting the expert advisor identity discourse (2025-Y1-033, 2025-Y1-086, 2025-Y1-039 with text “Yay!!”).

Figure 7

pSquares depicting the white coat symbol of the health care provider aspect of identity (2025-Y1-015, 2025-Y1-045 with text “Hello!! Smiling! White coat. Name tag.”, 2025-Y1-054).

Figure 8

pSquares depicting the caring aspect of the health care provider identity (2025-Y1-005, 2025-Y1-051, 2025-Y1-023).

Figure 9

pSquares depicting the collaborator role (2025-Y1-013, 2025-Y1-077 with text “Let’s figure this out.”).

Figure 10

pSquares depicting the public health provider aspect of identity (2025-Y1-008 with text “Education”, 2025-Y1-016).

Figure 11

pSquares depicting access to Primary Health Care services (2025-Y1-065 with text “H. Rx. Dr.”, 2025-Y1-064).

Figure 12

pSquares depicting the multi-faceted professional (2025-Y1-071 with text “I’m sick”, 2025-Y1-074, 2025-Y1-020 with text “Conference 2022”, 2025-Y1-082).