Acceptance of doctor of pharmacy in India: A survey-based study

Aims: The current study aims to assess the attitude of Indian Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) graduates toward the pharmacy curriculum and pharmaceutical care in India. Settings and Design: Web-based survey Materials and Methods: A nineteen item web-based questionnaire was used to attain the purpose of study. A total of n = 130 pharmacy students were invited for their participation in this study. Descriptive statistics was applied to assess the responses using Microsoft Excel((R)) Results: n = 108 Pharm.D students responded to this survey with a response rate of 83.0%. Results identified acceptance and dissemination in each of the key areas; 96% (mean: 1.04; standard deviation (SD): 0.19) respondents felt that there is a need for the Pharm.D course in India and 76.0% (4.19; 0.85) agreed that there is a need of continuous professional education for a pharmacist. Also, 83.0% (4.14; 1.01) students has shown willingness to be the part of pharmaceutical care process for their patients and 97.0% (4.64; 0.56) agreed that providing pharmaceutical care can increase the quality of service. Nearly 64.0% (3.72;1.07) agreed the Pharm.D program was successful in India. Conclusions: Findings of the current study reflects that Pharm.D curriculum is well accepted in India and pharmacy students get more insight through active participation in patient care. The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) need to initiate more proactive measures in creating clinical pharmacy jobs for Pharm.D graduates in India, and promote the Pharm.D degree to gain international status, as in United States.