The First student cohort at Charles Sturt University: Have we found the solution to the rural pharmacist shortage?

Objective: This paper reports a descriptive study of the first cohort of graduates from a non-metropolitan university. The objective was to elucidate students' future practice intentions. Methods: A questionnaire was developed and administered to students in their second and third year of study in the Bachelor of Pharmacy course offered at Charles Sturt University. An abridged version of the questionnaire was administered to final year students the following year as part of an ongoing research activity. Results: Whilst still in the early years of their course, students indicated a strong preference for a rural, community site for their pre-registration year. By the end of 2000, 62% of all graduates, and 88% of female graduates, had accepted pre-registration training placements in non-metropolitan locations. The pre-registration practice location for one in six of this first cohort was a hospital pharmacy, an increase from the 10% who declared in the 1999 survey that they were intending to do their pre- registration year in a hospital. Conclusion: The vast majority of students who complete their undergraduate training at a non- metropolitan university express the desire to practise in non- metropolitan sites during their studies. After graduation, this intention is confirmed by choice of practice location.