MYERS-BRIGGS TYPE INVENTORY PREFERENCES OF PHARMACY STUDENTS AND PRACTITIONERS

The Myers-Briggs Type Inventory (MBTI) preferences were obtained for s tudents in 10 classes at four different schools of pharmacy in the Uni ted States (N = 832), and for a sample of practicing pharmacists (N = 170). It was found that, except for three isolated instances, the MBTI personality preferences of all students studied were statistically si milar. The MBTI preferences of students were statistically similar to those of practicing pharmacists on the Extravert/Introvert and Sensing /Intuitive preferences. They differed on the Thinking/Feeling preferen ces in that more students had the feeling (people oriented) preference , and on the Judging/Perceiving preferences in that more students had a perceiving (adaptable, open)preference. Analyzing pharmacy students and students in other health care professions, it was seen that studen ts appeared to self-select into the various professions. Data also sho ws that student selection of specific curricular options offered in pr ofessional programs can be correlated to their MBTI preferences. The i mplications of personality preferences on curriculum design, teaching, and recruiting and admission processes are discussed