(91) Student Pharmacists’ Perceptions of Professional Appearance

Objective : To examine student pharmacists’ perceptions regarding professional appearance and potential impact on education and employment.

Methods: Pharmacy students from each professional year (P1-P4) were asked to complete a voluntary online 54-item survey. The survey focused on student pharmacists’ professional appearance, including how appearance may impact first impression perceptions of knowledge, approachability, trustworthiness, caring, and confidence. Most questions utilized Likert-scale responses with one open-ended item asking students to provide thoughts on professional appearance for pharmacy professionals. Responses were analyzed descriptively with frequencies and percentages. The open-ended question was analyzed through a thematic analysis process with four researchers utilizing individual open coding and category formation, followed by group discussion to identify consensus themes.

Results: 372 students (85%) completed the survey. Most respondents (n=258, 69.3%) agreed/strongly agreed a pharmacy intern who has visible tattoos, various types of piercings, unkempt hair, and/or unnatural hair color would experience hiring issues as a pharmacist. Similarly, 58.8% (n=219) agreed/strongly agreed the same individual would experience career advancement difficulties as a pharmacist. Six themes were identified from open-ended responses: 1) Personal beliefs vs. professional perceptions; 2) Appearance doesn’t represent professionalism; 3) Generational differences in defining professionalism; 4) Threshold for tattoos, piercings, and unnatural hair color; 5) Personal hygiene is different from personal expression or cultural norms; and 6) Standards are important for maintaining professionalism.

Conclusions: In society, there is a trend toward less conservative appearances. The professional appearance of health care professionals has traditionally remained conservative, but in recent years conservative appearance has been tested by the desire for personal expression. Student perceptions regarding what is considered professional varies and is important for pharmacy schools to understand as we guide them and their professional development.