A qualitative exploration of pharmacy students’ opinions and experiences of volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic

Tianna Patel, Vibhu Paudyal, Muhammad Abdul Hadi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Introduction: This study explored the experiences of pharmacy students volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic and the perceived impact of volunteering on experiential learning and development of core pharmacy skills.

Methods: Online semi-structured interviews were conducted with current master of pharmacy, entry-to-practice, professional degree students in the United Kingdom (UK). Participants were recruited through email invitations sent to six schools of pharmacy in the UK, pharmacy student organisations in the UK, and social media. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Implications from the findings were mapped against the Higher Education Learning Framework.

Results: Fifteen students from a range of UK universities were interviewed. The participants described their motivations for volunteering, experiences of working during COVID-19, and the impact of COVID-19 on their learning experiences. A prominent motivating factor for joining the workforce was a sense of moral responsibility to contribute towards the global effort. The opportunity to learn above and beyond routine coursework placements, personal and professional development, social wellbeing at the time of crisis, and national lockdowns were key outcomes that the participants linked to their experiences of volunteering.

Conclusions: Participants of this study perceived a high level of satisfaction, pride, and humanity in their contribution to the global effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Harnessing students' motivation, skill sets, and opportunities during the pandemic added an important workforce in the fight against COVID-19 while increasing the student learning experience.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1004-1014
JournalCurrents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning
Volume14
Issue number8
Early online date21 Jul 2022
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 21 Jul 2022

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • Education
  • Experiential learning
  • Pharmacy
  • Qualitative

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