Consensus Within Five Academic Subdisciplines of Pharmacy: Progress Toward Establishing Their Scientific Paradigms

• Published in: Journal of pharmacy teaching 2002, Vol.9 (2), p.27-46
• Main Authors: Desselle, Shane P., Collins, Charles C., Harrold, Marc W., Kalis, Michelle M., Quattrocchi, Elaena J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1044-0054; 1540-7365
• DOI: 10.3109/J060v09n02_03

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to measure the perceived consensus among faculty within pharmacy's academic subdisciplines of medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, pharmacy practice, and social and administrative pharmaceutical sciences as an initial step in determining their progress toward achieving their scientific paradigms. Surveys were mailed to a stratified random sample of faculty at 80 colleges and schools of pharmacy. Respondents indicated the level of agreement they perceive within their respective departments on issues comprising two consensus constructs: consensus basic and consensus graduate. Respondents from all five subdisciplines perceived at least modest agreement on each issue and exhibited similar levels of consensus. Respondents from institutions whose mission is primarily teaching perceived a lesser accord than did those of other institutions. Female respondents responded less positively on issues relating to departmental decision making and organizational reward systems. In conclusion, it would appear that pharmacy's subdisciplines are on track toward achieving scholarly consensus and that differences in perceptions are mostly at the personal level.