Characteristics of the ideal clinical pharmacy residency candidate: A survey of residency program directors and preceptors in Saudi Arabia

Abdullah A Alahmed; Omar S Alkhezi; Osamah M Alfayez; Mohammed Aseeri; Ahmad J Mahrous; Abdulaziz M Alhossan; John Fanikos; Abdullah Alalwan

doi:10.1016/j.jsps.2021.12.011

Characteristics of the ideal clinical pharmacy residency candidate: A survey of residency program directors and preceptors in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Pharm J. 2022 Jan;30(1):66-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2021.12.011. Epub 2021 Dec 31.

Authors

Abdullah A Alahmed^{1

2}, Omar S Alkhezi^{2

3}, Osamah M Alfayez¹, Mohammed Aseeri^{4

5}, Ahmad J Mahrous⁶, Abdulaziz M Alhossan⁷, John Fanikos², Abdullah Alalwan¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Pharmacy Services, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.
³ Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy-Unayzah, Qassim University, Qassim, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Pharmaceutical Care Services, King Abdul Aziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdul Aziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Clinical Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Objective: Residency positions are highly competitive. Pharmacy students who are familiar with the ideal qualities of residency candidates and the expectations of residency programs may be more likely to obtain one of these coveted positions. This study identifies the characteristics that residency program directors (RPDs) and preceptors use to define an ideal residency candidate.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive study that surveyed pharmacy RPDs and preceptors across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaires are comprised of two sections: demographic information and characteristics of the residency candidates. Over a five-month period (May 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020), the survey was sent electronically to the participants.

Results: Of the 78 surveys returned, 68 surveys were included (RPDs: 36, Preceptors: 32) and 12 surveys (15.17%) were excluded due to incompleteness. Number of RPDs responded to the survey represents (65%) of the total RPDs in Saudi Arabia. The mean response scores from the results of the Likert scale [strongly agree (1) - strongly disagree (5)] - suggest that a candidate's performance during the interview (mean score = 1.5), their professional appearance (1.5), an alignment between a candidate's interests and the program focus (1.6), and previous hospital experience (1.8) mattered most. While being from the same region (3.4), having an advanced degree (2.8) and the cumulative Grade Point Average (2.7) mattered the least. We find that previous hospital experience (29%), familiarity with the program (16%), research experience (15%), Saudi Commission for Health Specialists aggregate score (10%), and letters of recommendation (4%) are considered the top five factors.

Conclusion: Residency candidates should focus on training in clinical settings. Offering mock interviews and Saudi Pharmacist Licensure Examination practice tests and involving pharmacy students in clinical research may increase their chance in securing a residency position.

Keywords: Candidate; Pharmacy; Preceptor; Residency; Saudi Arabia.