Background: Pharmacy profession requires pharmacists to have leadership qualities to respond the challenges in healthcare system to meet the patients medication-related needs. Therefore, to build leadership qualities among pharmacists, it is essential to discuss it during the early training of the future pharmacists.
Aim: The study aims to evaluate leadership attitudes and beliefs of pharmacy students at School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
Methods: The study was designed as a cross-sectional, descriptive survey. All undergraduate pharmacy students (n=478) were targeted for the study. The Leadership Attitudes and Beliefs Scale was used
Results: Three hundred and forty-five students responded to the survey (response rate = 72.1%). The mean scores for hierarchical and systemic thinking were 25.7±6.56 and 30.7±6.88 respectively. Majority of the respondents (n=256, 74.2%) were reported to use a high hierarchical-low systemic thinking in leadership. Significant associations observed in a comparison between ethnicity and leadership aspects: leader being responsible of controlling, keeping authority, and charge of the organization (p=0.002, p=0.024 and p=0.047 respectively). Gender was reported to have a significant association with factors of participation (p=0.035) and security of the organization (p=0.014).
Conclusion: The study findings suggest that pharmacy undergraduates prefer a high hierarchical thinking and low systemic thinking approach to leadership. Therefore, specialized programs highlighting the importance of hierarchical and systemic forms of leadership are suggested to be included as part of the students activities and training.
Key words: Leadership, Malaysia, Pharmacy students
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