Who do you think you are? Pharmacists' perceptions of their professional identity

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine pharmacists' perceptions of their professional identity, both in terms of how they see themselves and how they think others view their profession.

Methods: A qualitative study was undertaken, using group and individual interviews with pharmacists employed in the community, hospital and primary care sectors of the profession in England. The data were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using the framework method.

Key findings: Forty-three pharmacists took part in interviews. A number of elements help determine the professional identities of pharmacists, including attributes (knowledge and skills), personal traits (aptitudes, demeanour) and orientations (preferences) relating to pharmacists' work. The study identified the presence of nine identities for pharmacists: the scientist, the medicines adviser, the clinical practitioner, the social carer, the medicines maker, the medicines supplier, the manager, the business person and the unremarkable character. While the scientist was the strongest professional identity to emerge it nevertheless seemed to overlap and compete with other professional identities, such as that of the medicines maker.

Conclusions: The relatively high number of identities may reflect some degree of role ambiguity and lack of clear direction and ownership of what makes pharmacists unique, but also suggests a flexible view of their role.