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The objective of this study was to investigate the professional commitment and related factors in pharmacy profession. Five index were chosen to measure the professional commitment of pharmacists including identity of professional belief, practice environment evaluation, identity of pharmacist role, willingness to devote, and inclination to remain in the profession. The data were collected by questionnaires mailed to pharmacists who work in hospital, clinic and pharmacy community segments. A total of 2,780 questionnaires were mailed, it resulted in 887 valid respondents with a response rate of 31.91%. The result showed the mean value of total professional commitment was 3.99. It was middle toward positive attitude. The attitudes of identity to the professional belief and pharmacy role, willingness to devote were also positive. The attitudes of practice environment evaluation and inclination to remain in the profession were on the middle. The correlated factors of the pharmacists’ professional commitment were as followings: age and marital status had positive influence on pharmacists’ professional commitment; the level of education was negatively correlated. Pharmacists who had longer practice years, never break off practice, ever receive continue education and having longer continue education hours have higher professional commitment. Pharmacists with owner status have significant higher professional commitment than employed and public service pharmacists. Pharmacists who work in pharmacy community had higher professional commitment than those in hospitals and clinics. Pharmacists who frequently contact with pharmacy colleagues, medical staff, general public or patient and discuss the problem of medication with physician also had higher professional commitment and positive attitude. Further more, pharmacy providing opportunity pursuing further education, pharmacists often discussing the issue of patient’s medicine use, and pharmacy with established working rule also positively correlated with higher professional commitment. In accordance with the results, the importance to nurture professional atmosphere and to advocate pharmaceutical care concept to pharmacists and pharmacy students were suggested. It is also suggested that future studies should include the expansion of study scale, longitudinal research on pharmacy students, and investigation of other related factors.
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