Pharmacy Students’ Perspectives on Human Resource Management: An Examination of Knowledge and Attitudes

Abstract

(1) Background: This study aims to examine pharmacy students’ perceptions of their knowledge and competencies in human resource management (HRM) while also investigating their attitudes toward the educational content provided in a didactic HRM course. (2) Methods: A survey evaluating both course knowledge (pre and post) and attitudes was administered to students enrolled in an HRM class. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and measures of associations. (3) Results: All 98 course enrollees completed the survey (N = 98), revealing statistically significant knowledge growth across HRM topics from pre- to post-survey (p < 0.05). Notably, emotional intelligence, workforce diversity, conflict resolution, and recruitment strategies exhibited the most substantial increases. The expert panel session proved highly effective, with 71% reporting it as the most knowledge-enhancing activity. “Global and cultural effectiveness” emerged as the most valued competency, reflecting a positive overall attitude towards HRM. (4) Conclusions: HRM competency is one of the most fundamental skills for pharmacists, as many problems faced by pharmacy organizations and their solutions stem from the workforce. Pharmacy schools should therefore assess their curriculum to ensure that HRM is adequately addressed to meet accreditation standards and to prepare students to navigate HRM challenges in their workplaces post-graduation.

Keywords

• pharmacy
• education
• human resource management
• knowledge
• attitude
• competency