The impact of a medical drama featuring a hospital pharmacist on the perception of pharmacists among high school students and guardians: A quasi-experimental study

Background: A pharmacist's work has shifted from non-personal to in-person services; especially in a super-aging society, further collaboration with other professions is needed. Communication has become an essential skill for pharmacists. However, there is limited public awareness about the work of pharmacists, and their perception among high school students is unclear. Medical dramas have been reported as educational tools for students, including their role in influencing the career choices of health professionals. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a TV drama featuring a hospital pharmacist on perceptions of pharmacists among high school students and guardians. Methods: An online survey involving 300 high school students and 300 guardians with their own high school children was conducted before the drama aired, anda post-survey conducted after it finished airing. Regular viewing was defined as exposure in this study. A difference-in-differences approach was used to compare the change in perceptions toward pharmacists' work, required knowledge, aptitude, and communication needs. Results: Comparing before and after they viewed the drama, high school students had significant differences in their perceptions of pharmacist duties such as "one-dose package dispensing" and "health consultation other than medicine," while guardians had different perceptions of "collaboration with health care professionals" and "information sharing about medication therapy." Regarding pharmacist aptitude, only guardians showed significant differences in their perceptions of skills such as "precision," "cooperativeness," and "decisiveness." There were no significant differences in the perceived level of communication required for pharmacists. Conclusions: The results indicated that the portrayal of the pharmacist in the drama may have had some impact on high school students and guardians and was considered useful as an opportunity to learn about pharmacists. However, it was suggested that pharmacists should make the public understand that their work requires real-world communication skills.