How pharmacists perceive their professional identity: a scoping review and discursive analysis

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Practice
• Professional Identity
• Sociology of Professions

Background:

• Understanding pharmacists' professional roles and identities is crucial for practice advancement.
• Previous research indicates a potential disconnect between how pharmacists see themselves and their actual practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore pharmacists' perceptions of their professional roles and identities.
• To identify factors influencing the adoption of specific professional roles and identities in diverse pharmacy settings.

Main Methods:

• A deductive scoping review was conducted using systematic searches across five major databases.
• Foucauldian critical discourse analysis was employed to deconstruct pharmacists' role and identity perceptions.
• 23 studies from 11 countries were included after screening 21,701 articles.

Main Results:

• Five primary identity themes emerged: Clinician, Dispenser, Business Person, Patient Counsellor, and Physician Supporter.
• The dispenser identity, though common, is often perceived negatively by pharmacists.
• The clinician identity is widely aspired to but not universally embodied.

Conclusions:

• A significant discrepancy exists between pharmacists' desired professional identity (clinician) and their embodied roles.
• This identity dissonance may impede the widespread practice changes sought by the pharmacy profession.
• Addressing this gap is essential for professional development and practice evolution.