Pharmacy Student Perceptions of Professional Appearance

To examine student pharmacists' perceptions regarding professional appearance (PA) and its potential impact on education, employment, and patient and provider first impressions.

Pharmacy students (P1-P4) were asked to complete a voluntary 54-item survey. The survey focused on student pharmacists' perceptions of PA at 1 school, including how first impressions impact others' views of professionalism, knowledge, approachability, trustworthiness, caring, confidence, and reliability. Most questions used Likert-scale responses, with 1 open-ended item. Responses were analyzed descriptively using frequencies and percentages. Responses to the open-ended question were analyzed by 4 researchers through thematic analysis process, followed by group discussion to identify consensus themes.

Eighty-five percent of students (372) completed the survey. Most respondents agreed or strongly agreed that an intern with visible tattoos, non-ear piercings, unkempt hair, and/or unnatural hair color would experience pharmacist hiring issues (n = 258, 72.7%) and pharmacist career advancement difficulties (n = 219, 61.7%). Six themes were identified from open-ended responses: (1) personal beliefs vs professional expectations; (2) appearance does not define professionalism; (3) generational differences in PA standards; (4) acceptable limits for tattoos, piercings, and hair color; (5) hygiene concerns are distinct from personal or cultural expression; and (6) appearance standards help maintain professionalism.

In society, there is a trend toward less conservative appearances. The PA of health care professionals has traditionally remained conservative, but this convention has recently been tested by the desire for personal expression. Student perceptions regarding what is considered professional vary, and it is important for pharmacy schools to understand these perceptions as they guide students in professional development.