The hospital pharmacist: master or victim of the environment?

The results of an investigation into role perceptions and expectations of hospital pharmacists are reported. The Locus of Control Scale which taps a personality attribute associated with beliefs about personal control over the environment was administered to 443 practitioners and students. It was found that hospital pharmacists are significantly more internal (masters rather than victims of the environment) than pharmacy students, other students and the general population. Implications of this finding are discussed in light of changing roles of pharmacists in the delivery of health care and the evaluation of pharmacy education. It is suggested that hospital pharmacists are well suited to the role of change agent, but that certain cautions are indicated in selecting strategies for change.