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Student perceptions of the white coat ceremony in a pharmacy program in Australia
Author(s) -
Mylrea Martina F.,
Gupta Tarun Sen,
Glass Beverley D.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of pharmacy practice and research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2055-2335
pISSN - 1445-937X
DOI - 10.1002/jppr.1525
Subject(s) - ceremony , medicine , pharmacy , pharmacist , perception , meaning (existential) , medical education , white (mutation) , family medicine , psychology , theology , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , neuroscience , psychotherapist , gene
The white coat ceremony ( WCC ) is an opportunity to welcome students to the profession and highlight the essential characteristics and responsibilities of the pharmacist. After three consecutive years of WCC s, all pharmacy students enrolled at the James Cook University in 2017 were invited to complete an online survey designed to ascertain student perceptions regarding the effect, meaning and timing of the ceremony. The 78 survey respondents (response rate 56%) revealed that students at all levels of the program were positive about the WCC and were proud to receive a white coat (90%). They demonstrated a clear understanding of the role of the ceremony and reported that the preferred timing for the WCC was at the end of the fourth year (43%) of the program. This study revealed that the WCC was perceived positively and represents a worthwhile strategy for enhancing student connection to the profession of pharmacy.