Perspectives of pharmacy students towards academic programs accreditation: A focus on awareness, perception and attitude

Background: The accreditation of pharmacy programmes is essential for maintaining educational quality in academic institutions, entailing a systematic evaluation process. This study examines the perspectives of pharmacy students (i.e. awareness, perception and attitude) towards academic programme accreditation. Methods: A cross-sectional study surveyed Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) students at King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, towards accreditation of academic programmes. Data from 112 participants were collected via a structured questionnaire covering demographics, awareness evaluation, and perception and attitude assessment. Results: The study included male (56.30%) and female (43.70%) students from different academic years. 38.40% demonstrated comprehensive awareness of the accreditation process, with significant variation across academic years (p < 0.001). 54.50% had a general awareness of accreditation, but 74.10% lacked formal orientation from their institutions. Over half (53.60%) knew their program's accreditation status, but many were unclear about accreditation requirements. Only 38.40% were aware of other accredited pharmacy programs. The study revealed a generally positive outlook on accreditation, with different perceptions about its importance across academic levels. Conclusion: The present study revealed a significantly improved trend in students' awareness of accreditation by academic level, demonstrating that awareness level increases with each academic year. Educational strategies that deepen students' awareness of the accreditation process are needed.