A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY ON PHARMACY STUDENTS’ INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Objective: The objective of this study was to delineate the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pharmacy students engaged in internships at community pharmacies in Turkey. Material and Method: In this study, which adopted a phenomenological approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted online. This study was conducted with 18 pharmacy students (S1 to S18) who had completed their internships in various regions of Turkey. Result and Discussion: This study yielded two principal themes. The two main themes that emerged from this study were: 1) Challenges and risks, and 2) Changing perspectives on the profession. It would be beneficial for future studies to evaluate the longitudinal effect on pharmacy students' workplace experience and appreciation of the pharmacy profession. Furthermore, additional research is required to examine the experiences of pharmacy students who undertook their internships in hospital settings during the pandemic.