Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the rational (systematic and rule-based) and experiential (fast and intuitive) thinking preferences of pharmacy students. This may assist in formulating learning and teaching tactics for decision-making leading to safe and optimized patient care services. Here, a validated psychometric tool, that is, the Rational Experiential Inventory (REI-40) survey was used. It was distributed to students studying in fourth and final years of pharmacy degree program in private as well as public sector universities of Karachi city. A composite rational score was obtained by adding responses from the rational ability (r-ability) and rational engagement (r-engagement) items, while a composite experiential score was obtained by adding the experiential ability (e-ability) and experiential engagement (e-engagement) items. Results revealed that the mean rational scores obtained were 3.269±0.28 for rationality, 3.259±0.29 for r-ability and 3.289±0.28 for r-engagement. Mean experiential scores were 3.143±0.21 overall, 3.247±0.18 for e-ability and, 3.039±0.23 for e-engagement. Influence of gender, year of study and, type of institute on students’ responses was evaluated by applying independent t-test. The present study thus highlighted that most of the pharmacy students favored rational over experiential decision-making styles.

Key words: Decision making, pharmacy students, rational engagement, experiential engagement