A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR AN EXTERNAL DOCTOR OF PHARMACY DEGREE PROGRAM

A needs assessment was conducted in the Fall of 1994 among a stratifie d random sample of North Carolina pharmacists in order to: (i) determi ne the level of interest of North Carolina pharmacists in obtaining a doctor of pharmacy degree through an external format; (ii) examine rea sons for interest in an external doctor of pharmacy program; and (iii) evaluate program design strategies for an external doctor of pharmacy curriculum. Among the 917 respondents (62.9 percent of those surveyed ) were 389 pharmacists (42 percent) who were interested in obtaining a PharmD degree on a part-time basis through an external program; 173 ( 19 percent) who indicated interest at a later time; and 355 (38.7 perc ent) who indicated no interest. The most important reasons given for s eeking a doctor of pharmacy degree were: (i) increased knowledge and s kills, and (ii) personal satisfaction.