Pharmacy residents’ perception of preceptors as role models was evaluated.

A 55-item survey instrument was developed, pilot tested, and distributed to pharmacy residents in Kentucky. Respondents used a 5-point Likert scale to rate the importance of selected preceptor characteristics in current and ideal preceptors. The percentage of residents who viewed their preceptors as role models was the primary outcome. The secondary outcome was the lack of concordance, if any, between each characteristic, quality, and component by comparing characteristics valued by residents versus characteristics exemplified by current preceptors.

A total of 69 pharmacy residents (77% response rate) responded to the survey. There was no significant difference between the proportion of residents who thought it was important for a preceptor to be a role model (67 of 69 residents [97%]) and the proportion who perceived their current preceptor as a role model (59 of 69 residents [86%]) (p = 0.271). The mean resident response showed that current preceptors exhibited clinical (p = 0.014) and teaching (p < 0.001) qualities significantly less than did ideal preceptors. The mean resident response showed no significant difference in ideal and current preceptors’ personal qualities.

Pharmacy preceptors in Kentucky were perceived by pharmacy residents to be role models with excellent personal qualities but needing improvement in teaching and clinical qualities. Preceptors with less than 10 years of experience were perceived to have better teaching and clinical qualities and to be more effective when compared with preceptors with more years of experience.