1. Factors associated with students deciding to study Pharmacy or Medicine at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Puthisastra, Cambodia

    Sin Chea, Sophearom Chhea, Keo Phanha Soeung, Channeth Meng, Chantrea Khoy, Sokanha Mov, Sorida Prak, Sovannaroath Tang, Sokunvary Oeung, Voleak Nov, Voleak Yin, Huykhim Ung, Koemlin Roum, Samell Keo

    Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Puthisastra, 180-184, 12211 Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

    Abstract: Most of the students, after being awarded with a high school diploma, have made decision to study at health science academic institutions under various majors particularly including Pharmacy and Medicine. However, the reasons behind this decision remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the factors which make students decide to study Pharmacy (PM) or Medicine (MM) at Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), University of Puthisastra (UP). This study was performed via structured interviews of 138 high school graduates who submitted their application at FHS. The findings indicated that the enrollment number of male students accounted for 30.4% (n=42, age in years: 19±1.65) and of female students accounted for 69.6% (n=19, age in years: 18±1.28), which was not significantly different in ages (p > 0.05). The percentages of students who chose to study PM or MM were 78.26% (n=108) or 21.74% (n=30) respectively. The female students preferred PM (91.70%, n=88) to MM (8.30%, n=8), but the male students preferred MM (52.40%, n=22) to PM (47.60%, n=20) (p < 0.001). The students were aware of the UP through their relatives (65.94%, n=91). The students’ relatives were the students of UP studying in the majors of Pharmacy (42.22%, n=19), Medicine (17.78%, n=8), Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) (13.33%, n=6), Nursing (11.11%, n=5), Midwifery (11.11%, n=5), Dentistry (2.22%, n=1) and Information Technology (IT) (2.22%, n=1). The students were aware of UP because of mostly the recommendation by their relatives who are studying at UP in the majors of Pharmacy (39.47%, n=15) and Medicine (18.42%, n=7). The students enrolling for PM or MM made a decision to study at FHS because of “Qualified experimental equipment for practical work” (PM: 53.70%, n=58; MM: 43.33%, n=13). It is concluded that the students decided to study at FHS, UP, because of “Qualified experimental equipment for practical work,” and they were recommended to enroll in FHS by “Their relatives studying at UP,” in particular the ones who major in “Pharmacy” or “Medicine.” This knowledge is a key to formulating effective enrollment strategies in the development of the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Puthisastra.

    Keywords: Pharmacy, Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Puthisastra.

    Pages: 46 – 53 | Full PDF Paper